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| supported_devices:432_warning [2021/09/05 17:38] – Slightly update for 21.02 hnyman | supported_devices:432_warning [2021/11/29 01:38] – [Warning about 4/32 devices] richb-hanover | ||
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| - | ====== 4/32 warning | + | ====== |
| ~~NOTOC~~ | ~~NOTOC~~ | ||
| - | |||
| - | Devices that have only 4 MBytes of Flash memory or only 32 MBytes of RAM are unlikely to work with modern versions of OpenWrt (19.07, 21.02, | ||
| - | |||
| - | Every operating system requires | ||
| - | - Sufficient Flash to accommodate the firmware image | ||
| - | - Sufficient RAM for stable operation | ||
| <WRAP round info 100%> | <WRAP round info 100%> | ||
| - | **Devices with ≤4MB flash and/or ≤32MB RAM may still work but they will be very limited (usually they can't install or run additional packages) because they have low RAM and Flash space.** Consider this when choosing a device to buy, or when deciding to flash OpenWrt on your device because it is listed as supported. | + | **TL;DR - Devices with ≤4MB flash and/or ≤32MB RAM (so-called "4/32 devices" |
| </ | </ | ||
| - | ===== Usability issues===== | + | Default builds of OpenWrt 21.02 can only run on 8/64 devices. We **recommend 16/128 devices.** Every operating system requires: |
| + | - Sufficient RAM for stable operation | ||
| + | - Sufficient Flash to accommodate the firmware image | ||
| - | **Insufficient | + | ===== Low RAM can lead to instability ===== |
| * 32 MB can barely work for minimal router/AP functions, but may repeatedly " | * 32 MB can barely work for minimal router/AP functions, but may repeatedly " | ||
| * 64 MB may still have issues with stability, depending on your hardware and use cases | * 64 MB may still have issues with stability, depending on your hardware and use cases | ||
| - | * 128 MB or more is recommended if software past basic router/AP functionality is to be used | + | * 128 MB or more is recommended |
| - | + | ||
| - | ===== Extensibility issues ===== | + | |
| - | **Barely enough | + | ===== Low Flash can't load new firmware |
| * 4MB is absolute minimum (but you won't be able to install LuCI web interface) / 8MB is barely enough (will fit LuCI and some other applications) / 16MB offers more flexibility | * 4MB is absolute minimum (but you won't be able to install LuCI web interface) / 8MB is barely enough (will fit LuCI and some other applications) / 16MB offers more flexibility | ||
| * 4MB devices can't fit anything noteworthy unless you use [[docs: | * 4MB devices can't fit anything noteworthy unless you use [[docs: | ||
| - | * If you want to be sure you can install at least a few additional software packages, | + | * 8MB (or more) of Flash lets install at least a few additional software packages, |
| + | * 16MB Flash (minimum) is recommended for the foreseeable future | ||
| Most probably, you will not be able to install the following popular packages (and others) on a device with only 4MB flash: | Most probably, you will not be able to install the following popular packages (and others) on a device with only 4MB flash: | ||
| Line 39: | Line 34: | ||
| ===== Supportability issues ===== | ===== Supportability issues ===== | ||
| - | It is getting harder or even impossible over time to support devices with low Flash + RAM. | + | It is getting harder or even impossible over time to support devices with low Flash + RAM. You will be less likely to find people willing to assist on the forums. |
| The 32 MB RAM is harder limitation than the flash size. The current Linux 5.4 barely works with a 32 MB RAM system and spikes in memory consumption can easily crash the router with OOM (Out-of-Memory) errors. | The 32 MB RAM is harder limitation than the flash size. The current Linux 5.4 barely works with a 32 MB RAM system and spikes in memory consumption can easily crash the router with OOM (Out-of-Memory) errors. | ||
| Line 48: | Line 43: | ||
| ===== Advice ===== | ===== Advice ===== | ||
| - | Users that are not expert | + | If you are not an expert |
| **16/64 as an // | **16/64 as an // | ||
| - | Users should expect that devices with less than 16 MB of flash and/or 64 MB of RAM may be unstable in basic operation under current versions of OpenWrt (21.02, 19.07). | + | If a device has less than 16 MB of Flash and/ |
| Previous versions of OpenWrt (such as earlier versions of 18.06.x, 17.01.x, 15.05.x "Chaos Calmer" | Previous versions of OpenWrt (such as earlier versions of 18.06.x, 17.01.x, 15.05.x "Chaos Calmer" | ||