DisplayLink for Linux turns a humble wireless router into a beautiful PC

Our inner nerd was already completely thrilled at the release of DisplayLink driver source code for Linux, but he's positively frothing at this elegant implementation. It's simply a Linux-based, OpenWRT router (the ASUS WL-500g Premium, to be specific) with a Samsung U70 USB display and a keyboard plugged in, but the DisplayLink driver turns what would be otherwise a headless, networking-only server into a totally elegant PC. Sure, that 300MHz embedded processor won't be powering past your Atom-powered machines or pretty much any other "modern" hardware, but it's basically a tinker's dream -- suddenly almost anything with a USB port and a processor somewhere within it could become a computer with the right amount of know-how.

[fwjs28 @ May 18th 2009 5:22PM]

my nerd senses are tingling....must.grab...ROUTERRRRR!

[KEROLiUKAS @ May 18th 2009 5:20PM]

This would be awesome to display traffic and whatnot. Realtime graphs of traffic and bandwidth. Do want.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ May 18th 2009 5:30PM]

It's rather Neato

[kjb434 @ May 18th 2009 5:32PM]

That's what I was thinking.

If the device can still be utilized as a router with the keyboard and monitor, it would be a neat way to monitor traffic. Also, the Linus OS may be able to insert some special security measures and prioritized traffic than the default internal router OS.

[Terc @ May 18th 2009 5:47PM]

Tomato firmware http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato already has a great real time graph in ajax. I'm using it with my Asus WL-500gP right now. This has me thinking about how hard it'd be to get the graph running in a display.

Me thinks there are many exciting times to come from this!

[ash @ May 18th 2009 5:44PM]

Will the Linus OS only be playing the Peanuts song or is it capable of other piano classics such as those by Billy Joel?

[rcarm @ May 18th 2009 5:56PM]

Linus?

[KEROLiUKAS @ May 18th 2009 5:57PM]

Terc, yea DD-WRT does those too, but you don't want to have a browser up, it would be nice to have in on the side of your desk or on the wall somewhere.

[Ignofibininious @ May 18th 2009 6:15PM]

It's cool that this can be done with the Linus OS. Let's see the Bill OS do this! lol

[rcarm @ May 18th 2009 6:43PM]

I'm confused, are you guys just joking or do you actually think it's called Linus OS?

[rcarm @ May 18th 2009 6:45PM]

Oh wait, nvm, i just got the joke.

[GoGoGadget @ May 18th 2009 7:10PM]

final showdown: Linus OS vs Bill OS vs Steve OS

[Generic @ May 19th 2009 12:13AM]

@KEROLiUKAS

It might show you immediate traffic stats but keeping a log, even a small onscreen one like Windows Task Manager, can be technically challenging since the amount of memory is tailored to work on maintaining the network stack and not much more.

Does anybody know how much memory is on this morsel?

[Mayur @ May 18th 2009 5:20PM]

That is either one very small keyboard or one very large router, I'm assuming the former.

[rBz @ May 18th 2009 5:46PM]

thats typical size without the 10key. u can see the (left side)tab, caps lock, shift key are shortened a lot. i think the keyboard is comparable to a 15 inch laptop keyboard.

that is however, a large router http://reviews.cnet.com/routers/asus-wl-500g-premium/4507-3319_7-30650222.html 8.1 inch wide

[r3loaded @ May 18th 2009 5:22PM]

Wow, now I truly appreciate the true meaning of the recent announcement of linux DisplayLink drivers.

*grabs everything with a usb port and processor he can find*

[rcarm @ May 18th 2009 6:00PM]

Using this on a SheevaPlug would be pretty cool.

[superhobo @ May 19th 2009 6:47AM]

omG!

[spam_from_engadget @ May 19th 2009 6:48AM]

...except that this guy is not using the DisplayLink drivers that were released on Friday, he's using the pre-existing reverse-engineered drivers. DisplayLink are playing catch-up with what has already been done by others.

[jay jay @ May 18th 2009 5:22PM]

why i didn't even think that was possible it's like having a cell phone with a super big screen. it seems like a good device to web surf and email (maybe... i don't know how far 300Hz gets you these days). this shows the creative amazing things that can be done when code is open to dev. with their codes being open sourced this may also help display link because many talented dev will be able to improve display link, add new functionality, and report and fix bugs FOR FREE without any cost to the company.

[Fabian Pimminger @ May 18th 2009 5:25PM]

I would really like to see that technology in the linux version for the Wii to get a higher resolution out of it.

[AndrewNoNumbers @ May 18th 2009 5:38PM]

Ooh, never thought of that. But don't be expecting good 1080 games without a real developer. It would be very useful for a useable desktop resolution though.

[Slick @ May 18th 2009 5:29PM]

Could let I.T. at smaller companies have a "hard line" into their router regardless of network status.. good for tracing problems.. me likey

If you can ping from that thing I'm sold

[Kamokazi @ May 18th 2009 6:00PM]

"If you can ping from that thing I'm sold"

It makes me sad that someone sporting an Ubuntu avatar isn't instantly able to instantly answer that question themselves.

1) Look at picture.
2) Notice command prompt.
3) Does any Linux shell exist without ping functionality?

And for the IT side, it would be simpler just to make the SOP to backup your configs on a regular basis, and if it becomes inaccessible, factory reset and restore it.

[ethana2 @ May 18th 2009 6:05PM]

Notice command promptLY.
..what command?

[ethana2 @ May 18th 2009 6:07PM]

Just Kidding.

Note, however, that 'Human Beings' includes 'People who are complete idiots but can't afford a mac'.

[xzor @ May 18th 2009 6:30PM]

no need to $bash
i kid, i kid :P
but really, maybe he just deleted his /bin folder.
just type $man ping
in any terminal and all your answers shall be questioned. er, wait....

[studioerlik @ May 18th 2009 5:33PM]

Most routers are actually small ARM based computers with Linux as the OS. If you can add a screen, some storage, a mouse and a keyboard you have a full computer. Granted this would be slow, but given that routers are really cheap pieces of hardware nowadays...

[Syliss @ May 18th 2009 5:34PM]

All i have to say is, WOW. That would be killer. I can see so many things being used with this. Go Linux!!

[luke.grechcini @ May 18th 2009 5:39PM]

tinker's dream..? In Scotland & Ireland a tinker is a gypsy. Isn't it supposed to be "tinkerer's" you tinker?

[Luke @ May 18th 2009 5:37PM]

I can't wait until DD-WRT starts using this!

[Someone on the Internet @ May 18th 2009 5:58PM]

Straight cool, I could not be more impressed. Maybe when displaylink gets off its ass and releases the compression algorithms we could use usb enabled routers as thin clients. Maybe better, I just realized you could attach an HDD.

Linux FTW

[ONi @ May 18th 2009 9:47PM]

you can, sort of.. http://www.macsat.com/macsat/content/view/15/30/

[glenn s @ May 18th 2009 6:08PM]

This is one of those rare moments of revelation where you have to truly stand back and just admire how cool this is.

[xzor @ May 18th 2009 6:20PM]

thats one really awesome hack!

[KEROLiUKAS @ May 18th 2009 6:29PM]

It's not a hack. That's the whole point.

[Wewtaco @ May 18th 2009 7:11PM]

OpenWRT = hack.

[Ignofibininious @ May 18th 2009 6:31PM]

2 questions: How much of a hit is the 300Mhz processor taking when running the display? Would latency/lag go through the roof when you using it?

Also, could devices such as g1, with usb host capability, make use of this?

[rcarm @ May 18th 2009 6:44PM]

Oh wait, nvm, i just got the joke.

[Matt @ May 18th 2009 7:55PM]

I too was interested about the keyboard. Find it here: http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_details.asp?PRODUCT=172

[why not the LS2LS7? @ May 18th 2009 8:02PM]

Why does engadget think the lack of a display makes something not a computer?

[ret0 @ May 19th 2009 6:47AM]

Folding@router anyone?

[GingerFox @ May 19th 2009 11:59AM]

haha, would be shit slow on 300mhz but yeah why not lol

[kingu @ May 19th 2009 10:47AM]

Major kudos.

[RdG @ May 19th 2009 5:06PM]

Where are all the windoze fan boys saying that they can do it easier, better and cheaper?

[andres @ May 19th 2009 6:49PM]

they're still trying to get windows to run on their routers

[Arkenklo @ May 20th 2009 3:37PM]

@andreas

No, they're still trying to figure out how to log in to their current routers to open ports for their torrents.

[regina @ May 20th 2009 4:10PM]

Hang on, I'm a little slow on this. Is that router running an x86 architecture?

[xzor @ May 20th 2009 8:07PM]

The ASUS WL500g Premium uses a BCM4704 processor from Broadcom. It is a 32-bit MIPS processor with a specified frequency of 300MHz (but it works at 264MHz in this router).
http://www.broadcom.com/products/Wireless-LAN/802.11-Wireless-LAN-Solutions/BCM4704
Fortunately its not really a problem to get linux to run on these things.