Why are smart routers using open source systems?

Millet recently officially launched the Millet router, in the industry again triggered a "grab the living room" discussion. These two miwifi systems, as expected, are based on a customized version of the Open source OpenWrt (OpenWrt is also based on Linux development) systems. 360 Secure Route 360SOS is a customized version of the Open source Linux system with hardware vendors. Once to the millet marketing model to cause high-profile concern of the polar route, the use of the Hiwifi system, also based on openwrt customization. and the shell routing and the system of the small route, is based on the Linux version of the SDK (software Development Kit) developed by the manufacturer.

Upstream vendors provide "nanny-style" service for router manufacturers

Why are emerging smart router vendors so fond of open source operating systems? It starts with the unspoken rules of the hardware industry.

The current hardware industry product development model has been finalized. As Intel, AMD, Nvidia and other manufacturers to introduce new products is very fast, starting from the 586 years, the industry's product development is basically the use of public-board mode. Front-End chip manufacturers provide a full range of hardware and software technical support for these brands. Shanzhai machine era of MTK and other manufacturers even put forward the "nanny-style" service slogan, greatly shortened the product development and market cycle.

Of course, this pattern also applies in the router domain. Bo Tong, Qualcomm, MTK and all other manufacturers of router chips, have a sound hardware and software technical support services. Millet as long as the purchase volume is big enough, can get chip manufacturer's "nanny-style" service.

Hardware, router manufacturers as long as the public board on the basis of a small number of optimization, or even only to change the PCB board wiring, you can produce a "different" router products.

Software, generally use two ways, one is to use the SDK provided by manufacturers to develop, the other is simply using open source software system for development customization.

"Micro-innovation" of routers

In the reality that the hardware threshold is not high and the performance of the same hardware architecture router is not significant, the router manufacturers mainly carry out "differentiated" competition from three aspects. First, the appearance of the product design, the second is the optimization of electronic components, the third is the design of software functions. The "micro-innovation" concept of the Internet is equally applicable in the field of hardware innovation.

The importance of product appearance design is self-evident. Before the mobile power supplier billion to find Technology co-founder Kang, Sohu it Infinity Club activities in the sharing, special emphasis on the design can make hardware entrepreneurship more "sexy" concept. In the case of hardware technology is very mature, cold technology will not allow users and products to create stickiness, not enough to become the moat of competition with peers. And with good design to enhance the user experience, is the product to the success of a correct path.

The optimization of electronic components is also very important. Millet mobile phone In the release, rebels classmate once told the Millet mobile phone in the component selection of the mind course, in order to highlight the design of millet in the heart and the user's responsibility.

The design of software function is in fact the most important. 360 Intelligent Hardware Product director Liuzhiyu that at this stage the router is still in the "smart" and "function" alternating point. Many companies now advertise the intelligent function, in fact, the traditional function of the router has been provided for users. In the router hardware platform has been very perfect situation, the next key point is to see how to make breakthroughs in software, truly "intelligent."

Open source fast for Internet rhythm

Since the wave of smart routers is largely led by internet companies, the use of "internet thinking" has a deep-rooted impact on hardware start-ups. Based on the upstream chip manufacturer's "nanny-style" service and peer competition, the use of open source operating system, the use of open source system rich plug-ins and source code, smart router products can be online in a very short time, and can quickly upgrade the software iteration.

Brand manufacturers are mainly driven by the adaptation and software interface optimization, as well as internet marketing. At present this batch of intelligent routers, many use MTK MediaTek's MT7620A program. As we all know, MTK known as "price butcher," said MT7620A is also a low-end market for the 802.11AC chip. From

Last year, the open source OpenWrt has been supporting the MT7620A chip, in the end of the manufacturer's packaging, after software customization and software interface optimization, the product seems to have a tall feeling.

Upgrading OpenWrt is a trend and a "challenge"

In Huangdong's view, the use of openwrt by the intelligent router's operating system is a trend. At present, the problem is openwrt in addition to some of the hardware chip in the Wi-Fi stability has yet to be improved, the main reason is stuck in the upstream chip manufacturers.

Shell Electronics Vice President Huangdong said that the current shell routing system using the chip manufacturer provided by the SDK for two times development. However, as the openwrt stability is getting better, the shell route will also be developed using OPENWRT to fully embrace the open source system and open to the very guest group.

It is said that hardware chip manufacturers are really reluctant to invest in software. They provide the SDK software development package also based on the older Linux Kernel (kernel) 2.6.X version, vendor-supplied developer documentation has not been modified for 5 or 6 years. The OPENWRT system is very active and the kernel has been upgraded to 3.3. If you want to support the OPENWRT system, the chip manufacturer's hardware drive will be constantly modified to fit, this is what the chip manufacturers do not want to do. There is a very deep gap between the two.

However, because the open source system community is very active, OpenWrt has a large number of followers in Europe, America, Russia, and China, and has countless branches and code contributors. In this upsurge of intelligent equipment innovation, the value of OpenWrt is getting more and more attention. Compared to the Android system, OpenWrt is considered a more suitable software platform for smart devices and robots.