The Linksys WRT54G is a usual Linksys router. But there is also the Linksys WRT54GL. This letter L makes the difference between this router and all other routers out there. This router has an open interface and allows you to run other firmware’s than the default Linksys firmware on this router.

A comparison of some available open firmwares for the Linksys WRT54GL is shown here.

I will tell you something about the Tomato operating system. This firmware is currently just the best router firmware I’ve ever seen. It’s completely built on AJAX and has some nice features besides the “usual” router features like DHCP, Firewall, DDNS, NAT, and so on.

1. Bandwidth monitor
   
    
2. WAN access not just with Ethernet, also with PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP, and so on. Really nice, because now, my old router operates in a bridge mode and the ADSL connection is now done with this WLAN router!
    
3. QoS (Quality of Service). Not just a QoS, this is “the” QoS for home users. Now, you can define in detail, which traffic get’s most of your Internet connection. VOIP, DNS queries or other traffic get’s the highest level, followed by usual HTTP traffic. At the end, there is the  bulk traffic.
    

More info about how to set up QoS properly can be found here.
 

4. Overwrite the function of the AOSS button with own scripts or some predefined functions like “Toggle WLAN”.
    
5. Ability to define the syslog in detail and to log on a remote system.
    
6. Ability to let the WLAN act as WLAN client, so that the WLAN Router is just a bridge for wired clients to a WLAN.
    
7. Scheduled restriction like turning off the WLAN over night or to block a specific computer on a specific time.
    

And the best about this router is: if you don’t like Tomato, just use another firmware! On which other router is that possible?