Linksys announces WRT160NL Linux-powered media sharing router
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Jun 23rd 2009 1:27PM
posted Jun 23rd 2009 1:27PM
Do you have some media to share with yourself (or with those in close vicinity)? The Linksys Wireless N Storage Router is a sleek and sexy refresh of the tried and true Wireless G, throwing in external R-SMA antenna connectors, USB connectivity (for your fave external drive) and an integrated media server. This bad boy can stream to PCs or UPnP AV digital media adapters, and it supports FAT16, FAT32, and NTFS file systems in both read and write mode. Available now for $109.99.
this is old news, it has been available for months
Yea it must be a slow day. My brother installed this thing @ my moms house like 3 months ago
I think the Linux part is what's new, previously the only version available was using Vxworks.
Thank you thank you thank you!
Finally, a Linux based N router.
Pretty much all of Linksys router products us a form a Linux to operate.
Most of Linksys router are using Vxworks OS to save Rom and Ram size, to cut production cost. Where were you?
Actually... no, most current Linksys routers are with Linux and all of them are Wifi-N. And yes, there are tons of Linux based routers that support Wifi-N. Just go to DD-WRT and go to the supported hardware list and you'll find a ton of Wifi-N routers that are supported.
Asus WL-500W is a wireless N router that comes with linux preinstalled. (I assume thats what he meant)
How about an integrated modem?
can this run an nzb client?
Haha, I didn't even know it was special! I bought that very one last week! Got it for $81 on newegg, they were having a promo! :)
Haven't done much with it yet, but it seems nice.
-Taylor
So are you sure it's the L version?
-Taylor (not)
It has one USB port. Would you be able to add a USB hub to it and add multiple hard drives?
Are you serious? This is a story? I bought this thing in early MAY. It's so old that its selling for a big discount already:
http://bountii.com/product-3332-linksys-wrt160nl-wireless-n-router.html
Funny how a Linux-based device only supports Microsoft filesystems.
Exactamundo! Any word on EXT3/4, ReiserFS, JFS, etc.?
I seriously dont see anyone who will use ext3/4/etc on external USB storage.
Would be pretty pointless for Linksys to include the needed libraries and drivers for it.
Well, FAT is probably good enough. Funny though, DD-WRT only supports FAT and ext2, so I guess if you want ext2 you can put on DD-WRT. In fact, you might as well put on DD-WRT.
dd-wrt doesn't support this version of the router yet. It only supports 160N v1 and v1.1, and there's work in process for v2, but 160NL isn't supported yet.
Sounds exactly like something I am looking for when I move out in the fall. It'll even match (glossy black with blue lights) the external HD I have. I was looking for a N router and something to make my external network accessable. This does both!
Does it keep the HD running even if the data is not accessed? I'd hate to have an external running 24/7.
Add a gigabit switch and eSATA connectivity and I'm all over it.
An N router without gigabit interfaces and jumbo frame support is just silly. That's probably why this thing has been on sale deeply discounted already.
Agreed, that is the only thing stopping me from picking this up right now.
There are routers that do that, but are more expensive. The WRT160 line is the cheapo line so don't expect much.
http://ubnt.com/products/rspro.php
Gig-e switch, 600+Mhz CPU, 128mb ram, 3 mini-pci slots for whatever wifi cards you need, USB, PoE, and more for $80.
Those of you that have this, do you like it better than Linksys' current antennaless offerings? I have been using an old Linksys Wireless G Router for years due to its stability, but I've been hesitant to upgrade to any N router as I always fine tons of negative reviews on all but the most expensive. And the antennaless current Linksys models not only have drop horror stories, but overheating horror stories as well. Curious if they got it right this time?
"it supports FAT16, FAT32, and NTFS file systems in both read and write mode"
this thing is linux powered yet it doesn't support ext2,ext3,or ext4?
I think I'm missing something here. Why don't these routers have multiple USB ports to manage HDs and printers?
just throw in a usb hub, install dd-wrt, optware, samba and ur all set.
That thing looks way too much like the Knight Industries Two Thousand. If it only had a red light moving menacingly back and forth it would be perfect.
Surely you "experts" know that nearly every router availble runs linux right ?
I bought this router from newegg.com for $79. The sale ends in a week. It works great.
You can get the wrt610n for $139 at newegg right now. Much better. Has all gigabit ports , 802.11n uses both frequencies at the same time
IT also supports dd-wrt. EKO just got one in his hands and is working right now to fix the dd-wrt bugs on this model.
So i would just spend the extra money and get something like the wrt610n.
PS also has the usb port for hdd storage and has an vailable firmware from trendmicro to do virus scan from the router (if you rather use this then dd-wrt).
are they out of new design ideas?
I have a G that looks the same
So it runs Linux, but requires M$ filesystems. Lame.
So if they only now release the L versions of the 160, I guess it'll be 2 more years before we see the WRT320n go L eh? :/
Seriously?? Come on. I just bought my WRT54GL and now I'm going to HAVE to buy this.
10/100 ?? Media router FAIL!
10/100 = fail
agree