Adding more available Port Forwarding slots to a Linksys WRT54G

Hello all,
I'm running into a conundrum with my home network. I'm currently running with a Linksys Wireless WRT54G router on a three computer network (2 desktop, 1 wireless Laptop). One of the issues I'm running into is with Port Forwarding for games and applications I'm running (like my Freelancer server and my FTP server). By default, you get a total of 10 ports/ranges you can open for your applications, but after that, you're SOL if you need more.

I use this firewall setup to protect my systems. The other day, I tried loading up Command and Conquer: Generals to play online with a friend. The program itself requires close to 12-14 ports to play online! And that's not even for running your own server. It's rediculous! Needless to say, I couldn't open up that many ports even if I removed all my other port forwarded slots from the fowarding listing.

Is there anyway that I can add more available slots to the Port Fowarding section of the Linksys router? Is there a way to flash the chip within the Router to make this sort of addition? I've heard of some Linux solutions which add all sorts of things, but I'm not sure if any of those add this functionality I need.

Thanks everyone,
-Mike in Denver

 

Upgrading Linksys WRT54G for advanced firmware

It all depends on the version of the Linksys WRT54G you have.
The newer version ( version 5) of the WRT54G uses a diffirent operating system than the previous versions.
It can not be upgraded with 3rd party firmware in any way.
The previous versions used a Linux based OS. Linkys after a period of persuasion released the source code resulting in a number of firmware upgrades with advanced feautures

First determine the version of WRT54G you have. If the serial number begins with CDFB you have a 5.
If you have a new router it will be version 5. Lots lf luck.
Soruces : http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php

and from Seattle Wireless : Version 5 WRT54G units have serial numbers beginning with CDFB, and V5 WRT54GS

If you have a pre 5 version of the WRT54G there a number of 3rd party firmware updates available. It is a standard firmware upgrade process from within the web based interface of the router. Be aware that you will void your warranty from Linksys. However these products are very commonly used without incident.

The standard 3rd party firmware updates are Sveasoft
http://www.sveasoft.com/


and OpenWRT http://openwrt.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenWrt


hope this helps

 

Thank you much for the input, I will check my router version once I get home from work.

 

Another Wonderfull Marketing Decission

The explanation for the change to a non upgradeable firmware non Linux propiertary bios was that someone im marketing looked at a graph and exclaimed we are selling hundreds of thousands of these things.
How can we reduce cost ? Can we reduce the ram from the 8 megabytes ?
This can be done with this other firmware. We have to pay but the savings justify it.
Not only did they bite the hand that feeds them but it turns out that no matter what Linkys firmware update you use it is very poor router according the expert reviews ( their words not mine).
They should invite 13 year old kids for a pizza lunch as a " focus group" before they do such foolish things.
The American Auto executives hiding in their top floor offices should be shot as well.