OpenWrt One is a draft released to the community by the OpenWrt developers. Pending a formal user vote, it’s a very interesting project to create a fully open your own hardware device and compatible with this firmware for routers.

If you like to tinker with your network devices, you’ll be familiar with OpenWrt, a Linux based open source firmware and created in 2004 from the source code Linksys developed for the WRT54G router. It was very well received by enthusiasts and supported by other manufacturers such as Netgear, D-Link and ASUS. Or they allowed users to install it themselves.

Although the most popular router with OpenWrt is still the Linksys WRT54, there are ​​​​​​​​others that are widely adopted, such as the ASUS WL500G. This firmware improves the capabilities of routers, especially those installed by telecom operators who are generally not very capable. In addition to increasing their performance, efficiency or security, they enable other use cases such as file servers or P2P peer networks such as VPN gateways, firewalls, video surveillance and more.

OpenWrt One, an interesting project

OpenWrt celebrated 20 years since its launch in January, and the developers wanted to celebrate this anniversary with a unique project, because it would be the first custom and “official” hardware device. The hardware is not intended to compete with commercial developers, but rather is intended to be a “fully compatible” project with the copyleft and other FOSS licenses it uses.

OpenWrt One describes a wireless networking device designed for open source software enthusiasts. The hardware reference design is designed to encourage users to experiment and learn about embedded development, while the OpenWrt development team would receive a revenue share from each unit sold.

The project will be built on SBC Banana Pi boards, which will reuse the design elements and form factor of those sold by the Chinese firm. The OpenWrt team has prepared a list of hardware specifications that the project’s first reference hardware should have. Banana Pi is expected to provide at least 15 technical samples to “interested parties” once the hardware design is complete, with additional samples sent to the nonprofit. Software to protect freedom (SFC) to verify compliance with the license.

All schematics will be inserted available to the public under a FOSS license. Voting is underway and the project has already been approved by a large number of developers. If the vote is successful, the OpenWrt team will complete the reference hardware design in collaboration with the silicon vendor (MediaTek) and the ODM (Banana Pi). The OpenWrt One targets a price of $100 and looks very much like a custom hardware where the free firmware will be able to show all its capabilities.