X

LinkSys Cable/DSL Router: LinkSys supplies setup details for a Mac; A reader shows how to update the firmware on a Mac!; PPPoE b

LinkSys Cable/DSL Router: LinkSys supplies setup details for a Mac; A reader shows how to update the firmware on a Mac!; PPPoE b

CNET staff
2 min read
The LinkSys Cable/DSL Router works well with a Mac but, as we have previously commented, LinkSys has offered no support for the Mac platform. They provide no details about how to set up the router on a Mac. Even worse, their utility to update the firmware does not run on a Mac. As for setting up the router, we provided the essential details in our AppleTalk Access MacFixIt Extra. LinkSys has finally jumped in with their own set of instructions, available as a PDF file. There is also a "Linksys Cable/DSL Router Help" page, unofficial and unaffiliated with LinkSys. (Thanks, John Strung.) As for updating the firmware, we wound up running the LinkSys utility from Virtual PC. For those who don't want to spend the money to purchase an emulator just to run this utility, here's some good news: Vernon Brown found a way to update the firmware directly from the Mac. Here's how: Download the firmware update for the LinkSys router. Expand the file and locate the file called code.BIN. Download the updater for the MacSense router (!) from the MacSense web site. Expand the file and locate the program called "TFTP Client for XRouter" in the package of software. Trash everything else. Run this program. The "TFTP Client for XRouter" program works just like the LinkSys manual documentation on the Windows TFTP program they provide. Just verify your router's IP address (default 192.168.1.1), enter your password, browse for the LinkSys "code.BIN" file and click update. Once complete, reset the router by unplugging it for a few seconds and the new firmware should take effect. Finally, LinkSys is looking for volunteers for a Cable/DSL Router PPPoE BETA Test Program. I guess their first attempt at a firmware update to offer PPPoE support was not successful (see previous coverage). Update: Several readers expressed disappoint that we posted a work-around for LinkSys that involved using a utility from MacSense. The feeling was that MacSense was a better product for Mac users, especially because of their active Mac support, and that we should not be promoting this sort of work-around for an "anti-Mac" product. We do not advocate using LinkSys over MacSense routers. We think each has its pros and cons. We offered this work-around for the benefit of the many users who have the LinkSys product. Update: MacSense removed the firmware update late today. You now have to email them to get it.