Linksys Fixes WRT54G DHCP Bug
Mac users everywhere have been experiencing problems after upgrading to firmware v1.00.10 on the popular Linksys WRT54G v5. After the upgrade, a bug in the way the router issues DHCP addresses to wireless clients does not allow Mac users to obtain an IP address from the router. A quick workaround is to assign the computer a static IP address. Not only is this a hassle (because you have to turn DHCP back on when you change locations), but for less wirelessly-adept users, this can be a complicated, confusing task.
Fortunately, after a number support calls and desperate forum posts begging for help, Linksys has released new firmware for the WRT54G v5 and v6 to appease a vocal Mac audience. The upgrade resolves the DHCP issue. If you have a 54G router, I highly recommend upgrading ASAP!
On another note, the fact that Linksys has responded to this issue brings up the question: Will Linksys be supporting Apple products in the near future? Perhaps users will be able to add wireless capabilities without having to spend money on an $80 Airport Extreme or have to track down the older discontinued Airport card. Maybe we will even see 802.11N support.
For the new firmware, go to Linksys.com and choose your product.
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9 Responses to “Linksys Fixes WRT54G DHCP Bug”
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Is it just me or is it hard to get a good wireless router for mac compatibility? I have a NetGear and the thing gives me horrid reception on my MacBook, but fine on PC’s in the house… arggh
I’d go with the Apple branded router but it is literally 4x the cost, they should make it cheaper since I am sure it works better.
Unfortunately, the problem still exists on the WRT54GS v6 router. I hope that Linksys fixes it for these routers soon.
[...] Linksys released a new firmware for the WRT54G v5 and v6. Apparently, there was an bug in the way that the router issued IP addresses to Mac clients. I tested out the new firmware on both a PPC and an Intel Mac and the upgrade seems to work perfectly. For more information: macnewsonline [...]
Users of IBM’s OS/2 Warp operating system or eComStation (the OEM version) had the same problem with the firmware version 1.0.1.0 as Mac users. I have not yet tried the 1.0.1.1 firmware (currently using the static address “fix” with 1.0.1.0, but I found it interesting that the problem apparently only affected computers running non-Windows operating systems. I use eComStation 1.2.
I’ve dealt with the problem just today for the WRT54GS v6 . Other than suggesting that I upgrade my Linksys firmware (which I had done), Apple says that we should call Linksys. Linksys says they normally don’t help Apple users, but since I seemed to know what I was doing…
Anyway, neither Linksys or Apple was able to help and I “discovered” that putting in a static IP address did the trick.
I leave out the #@%$#@$%%^^ comments and get to the point — I have 3 Masbook Pros for my children and could not connect them through (and I say “through” advisedly) to my ISP. The solution was to upgrade the Firmware on the Linksys wirelss router to the latest version. After doing so, the Macs linked flawlessly, as did the PC-based systems I have for work. It’s easy to do–but, unfortunately, not easy to find out about! Neither the Apple nor Linksys websites reference this problem ( at least in any way I could detect through searching them…)
I fell sorry for folks who got their kids laptops for xmas from apple to have their fun spoiled by this (as were mine)…at least I tracked down the solution by combimg through google posts like that above…!!! Many thanks!
I had to manually assign my Mac Mini.
My GF’s dell laptop is up shit creek without a paddle, with a static IP it’ll be fucked as a portable…
Worst of all, the jerk-offs at Cisco haven’t made an update for the BEFSR11 since 2005! Linksys got TOTALLY RUINED as a result of Cisco take-over; I still suspect they degraded the entire product line to discourage competition with the constantly-getting-hacked line of Cisco routers… after all, if your small businesses WiFi router crashes at least once every few days you might actually perceive a need to waste money on a Cisco-branded product instead.
Unfortunately, the problem still exists on the WRT54GS v6 router. I hope that Linksys fixes it for these routers soon.
I fell sorry for folks who got their kids laptops for xmas from apple to have their fun spoiled by this (as were mine)…at least I tracked down the solution by combimg through google posts like that above…!!! Many thanks!