What are the risks of running DD-WRT for a router that is listed as "Work-in-progress"?

[UmarG]

I recently got upgraded to a new, much faster internet connection. That's Great! The only problem is that now I'm limited by speed checks (which hit at 25GB) and can't afford to get a greater limit (60GB) on the connection. I'm somewhat of a heavy internet user and find it really important, therefore, to watch my usage now

I already have Networx running on my computer so that I can measure all the data usage on the computer, however, my entire family uses that connection and, hence,I have several devices (Phones, tablets etc) connected through the same router (my trusty D-link DIR-605l 😛). Having to check the data usage across each device individually and summing it up is a bit of a hassle. Then I found DD-WRT. However, upon checking their list of supported devices, my router is listed as Work-In-Progress (wip).

My question is, What would happen if I installed it anyway? Could I install it anyway? And is there any other alternative that I could use?

Thanks in advance for all the help
Umar

 

[bill001g]

I would not try it even routers that are supported you can brick if you load the wrong image and some routers require going to extraordinary length to get them unbricked if it is even possible.

Generally the reason you find routers in the incompatible lists is they use chipsets that the manufacture does not release information to allow it. The only routers that you have a hope for future support come from manufactures who have a history of releasing driver information.

 

[UmarG]

I would not try it even routers that are supported you can brick if you load the wrong image and some routers require going to extraordinary length to get them unbricked if it is even possible.

Generally the reason you find routers in the incompatible lists is they use chipsets that the manufacture does not release information to allow it. The only routers that you have a hope for future support come from manufactures who have a history of releasing driver information.

Thanks for the reply. Looks like I won't be doing this at all.

Any other alternatives that I could use till my router gains support?
Thanks in advance for all the help

 

[bill001g]

Unclear if you actually knew how you were going to get the data measurements from dd-wrt. You would have to use netflow or whatever its called in dd-wrt and export the data to a collector. This collector would likely be a unix based machine that could store and analyze the data.

Since you will need a collection machine I would get a dual nic machine and load the prebuilt ubuntu firewall image. Now that the data passes the machine you can use the firewall logs or you can run netflow or number of other tools. Even simple wireshark captures will give a lot of information but that is kinda overkill. The machine can be a older model since you are not going to be doing a lot,

I doubt that router will ever be supported. It uses Realtek chips and they do not provide the information needed to port dd-wrt.