OpenWRT

It's somewhat startling to realize OpenWRT wasn't nominated long ago ...

From http://openwrt.org/:

- OpenWrt is described as a Linux distribution for embedded devices.

Contributions - cash or equipment, but apparently to SPI, with instructions to forward to OpenWRT, instead of OpenWRT directly:

- https://dev.openwrt.org/wiki/SupportDonate - includes credit card payment means. No obvious PayPal mechanism sticks out.

- ('oldwiki') http://wiki.openwrt.org/oldwiki/donations - goes into more detail with respect to desired equipment, but may be outdated.

- SPI - Software in the Public Interest: http://www.spi-inc.org/. SPI can, for example, issue (US?) tax receipts, unlike OpenWRT itself, I assume.

More commonly, enthusiasts tend to run OpenWRT on appropriate router hardware, letting consumers access the full capability of the hardware they have purchased, rather than just the limited functionality available via the proprietary software / web interface.

For example, the ability to define vlans on a switch is something not often seen on very low cost equipment. The hardware may have the capability to do it, but the functionality is inaccessible via the included configuration interface. OpenWRT enables, and enables access to, more of the hardware functionality already present.

Combining the rich feature set of applications like busybox, with the hardware access and user interfaces provided by OpenWRT, OpenWRT has made a rich feature set available, increasing our value for hardware dollar, to all, for free. For devices that most all of us use in our homes every day - our ISP connected router. It isn't much of a stretch to say that it represents a fine example of FOSS, and the FOSS community.

Need a little Linux box? Run OpenWRT.