58 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
Executable File
58 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
Executable File
# GL-AX1800 (Flint) Firmware History & Comparison
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## 🕰️ Firmware Evolution Timeline
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The GL-AX1800 (Flint) has undergone several major architectural shifts since its release:
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| Era | Base OpenWrt Version | Kernel Version | Notes |
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|:---|:---|:---|:---|
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| **Early (2021)** | **15.05 (Chaos Calmer)** | 4.4.x | Initial release used a legacy Qualcomm SDK (QSDK) base. |
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| **Mid (2022-2024)** | **21.02 (Esmond)** | 4.4.x | The foundation for the "4.x" GL.iNet firmware series. Most 4.6.x builds are here. |
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| **Official (March 2025)** | **Mainline / Master** | 6.x | Officially merged into OpenWrt mainline under `qualcommax/ipq60xx`. |
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| **Current (2025-2026)** | **23.05+ / GL.iNet 4.8+** | 5.x / 6.x | GL.iNet is transitioning their proprietary UI over newer OpenWrt bases. |
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> [!NOTE]
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> **Fork Point**: GL.iNet traditionally forks from OpenWrt stable releases (like 21.02) and replaces the standard network core with **Qualcomm's QSDK** to support proprietary Wi-Fi blobs and performance optimizations.
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## 🏗️ GL.iNet Additions vs. Official OpenWrt
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GL.iNet's firmware is "OpenWrt-based" but contains significant deviations and proprietary layers.
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### 1. Proprietary UI & Middleware
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- **Proprietary Dashboard**: A custom, user-friendly frontend (React/JS) that sits on top of OpenWrt.
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- **Middleware API**: A custom C/Go backend (`gl-sdk`) that manages settings, bridging the UI to system files.
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### 2. Networking & Drivers
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- **Qualcomm QSDK Drivers**: Unlike official OpenWrt's `ath11k` (open source), GL.iNet uses proprietary Qualcomm blobs.
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- **Benefit**: Better stability, higher throughput, and lower CPU usage for Wi-Fi.
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- **Trade-off**: Harder to update the kernel independently.
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- **Hardware NPS (Network Processing Unit) Offload**: Specialized code to utilize Qualcomm's hardware acceleration for faster routing.
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### 3. Integrated Features (Not in Vanilla)
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- **Advanced VPN Policies**: Easy-to-use UI for routing specific devices, IPs, or domains through VPN (WireGuard/OpenVPN).
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- **AdGuard Home**: First-class integration with dedicated UI buttons and lifecycle management.
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- **Multi-WAN / Failover**: Enhanced "Repeater" logic that handles Captive Portals and multi-interface failover more gracefully than standard OpenWrt.
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- **GLDDNS**: Proprietary dynamic DNS service integrated with their cloud.
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- **GoodCloud**: Remote management system for controlling the router over the internet.
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### 4. Hardware Customization
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- **Flip-Switch Support**: Logic for the physical toggle switch (can be mapped to VPN, Wi-Fi, etc. via UI).
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- **LED Patterns**: Proprietary logic for LED indication of system status.
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---
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## ⚖️ Summary Comparison
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| Feature | GL.iNet Firmware | Vanilla OpenWrt |
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|:---|:---|:---|
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| **Ease of Use** | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Very Easy) | ⭐⭐ (Technical/LuCI) |
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| **Wi-Fi Performance** | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Highly Optimized) | ⭐⭐⭐ (Open Source `ath11k`) |
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| **RAM Usage** | ~180MB Free | ~200MB+ Free (Less Bloat) |
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| **Customizability** | Limited (Locked by UI/Plugins) | Infinite (Full Linux Control) |
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| **Security Updates** | Vendor Dependent (Slow) | Community Driven (Fast) |
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> [!IMPORTANT]
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> Official OpenWrt support for the AX1800 arrived late (March 2025) because the **Qualcomm IPQ6000** platform required significant upstream work for its Wi-Fi (ath11k) and interrupt handling before it was stable enough for mainline.
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