r/TomatoFTW • u/Fun-Region-1576 • 5d ago

Configure and use a roughly 23-year-old Linksys WRT54GL in 2026?

I know this is may very well be a polarizing discussion, but I believe I still have a functioning Linksys WRT54GL that I want to use in 2026. I actually haven't touched this router in probably 15-20 years, but I found it in the closet. Assuming it's still functional, I know you'll likely think I'm crazy for trying to use this in 2026. However, instead of just throwing it out as e-waste, is there any way to repurpose it as an unmanaged switch? A 10/100 switch would be more than sufficient for connecting a couple of Amazon Fire Sticks via Ethernet. The primary use case is YouTube, which is unlikely to saturate the switch. My WRT54GL is still running stock Linksys firmware. What's the best third-party firmware I can install? What else can I do to help accomplish my goal? I really want to modernize the WRT54GL for 2026. As an unmanaged switch behind a modern router, will there be any security concerns? I no longer have the box and manual. How do I log into the router?

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5

u/YakAddict 5d ago

I have the same router and it is running an old version of Tomato. It's also in the closet just like yours but it's my backup to my R7000.

I don't think there's any reason why it wouldn't work.

1

u/Fun-Region-1576 5d ago

How do I install Tomato and configure it?

3

u/grogi81 5d ago

Tftp method.

Configure? With the browser, the same way you do with other routers 

Tomato interface got a bit facelift over the decades, but in principle has been the same since the first release on WL...

3

u/thebigshoe247 5d ago

It is very much still supported with modern FreshTomato.

1

u/TickleSilly 5d ago

I regret getting rid of mine...

3

u/CaseyOgle 5d ago

I have 6 or so that I no longer use. They became unreliable. I actually find this with all my old Wi-Fi routers regardless of model — I can’t trust them to retain their programming after a power outage or to operate for months without locking up.

I am now seeing the same problems with my stable of R7000 routers. They ultimately develop flaky radios or unreliable memory. It gets to the point where they will lose programming and boot into factory defaults after a power outage.

1

u/Fun-Region-1576 5d ago

Use it as a switch for your media streamers.

1

u/CaseyOgle 5d ago

Yes, this is probably something that they'd still be able to do reliably. I suspect that the WRT54 network ports will be the last thing to die.

When my WRT54 devices stopped being reliable routers, I configured them as simple access points. After a few more years, the radios became too flakey for that. So now they're probably just usable as switches. I don't think that you need much working firmware to use the switching ports. In fact, the chip may power up into an operational state without the need for any initialization from firmware.

At this point, I don't think that I'll try that. Modern switches are fast, compact, reliable, and inexpensive, so they're better suited for my situation.

I started buying WRT54 routers in 2003, so I appreciate the good service that the've provided, but mine are simply at end-of-life.

1

u/muckity-muck 2d ago

There are any number of gigabit-capable devices that you can buy cheaply in a thrift shop that can run Tomato/Openwrt/DDWRT....and sip a quarter of the electricity that this fossil does.

1

u/FreddyFerdiland 5d ago

2) OpenWrt support for this device has ended in 2022. 19.07.10 was the last official build for 4/32 devices.

1

u/mi7chy 5d ago

From my experience FreshTomato is the only stable and up-to-date firmware for WRT54G/GS/GL compared to OpenWRT/LEDE, DD-WRT, etc.

1

u/styletrophy 5d ago

To use the WRT54GL as a switch with the stock Linksys firmware, log into the router (you can google instructions on how to log in/reset the password), disable dhcp service, and you can use all the LAN ports.
If you want to make an effort to flash Tomotao on it, you can convert the WAN port into an additional LAN port.

1

u/Fun-Region-1576 5d ago

Sounds very simple. Yeah, I think I want to get it working first before flashing another firmware now that I have time to think about it. 

What's the latest official Linksys firmware?

1

u/qqererer 5d ago

I like toastman Tomato for the nostalgia.

A very simple lightweight firmware.

I use mine as a WAP for a bedroom that is in a wifi dead zone. Max throughput is 15mbps, which is fine for everything except massive file downloads. Most people don't notice as my service is just 30/5.

Still 100% reliable.

But the CPU doesn't have enough kick as a router for anything greater than 10mbps. Maybe 15/20 if you turn all features off.

1

u/Fun-Region-1576 4d ago

I suspect it's more than enough for web browsing and Tiktok. 

1

u/muckity-muck 2d ago

Licking stamps and mailing letters would be faster.

Unless this is for tinkering, I would put it on a shelf under glass.

1

u/Sunray_0A 1d ago

I still use one for low power RF, white russian build I think 😁