Comparing options to upgrade firmware

This legend is for newcomers. About this comparison table above, below is the meaning for each of its column header.

• Options to choose from column header means that, in this comparison table above, if appropriate, as newcomer you need to choose one of the options listed under that column header.
  Also under that same column header, on each option, the link goes to a related documentation page. Which might be of interest to newcomers.
  The abbreviation GUI/LuCI means graphical user interface. In other words, easily and quickly clicking or taping on buttons to upgrade the firmware.
  CLI means command line interface. Which requires using a terminal and typing command(s) to upgrade the firmware.

• Learn column header means the initial learning curve before a newcomer is able to successfully use that option.
  For example, under the Learn column header:
  • Easy means the initial learning for the Attended Sysupgrade App from LuCI option might require a few minutes. Thus, Easy initial learning curve. Why? Because during configuring Attended Sysupgrade App from LuCI as newcomer you only have to learn between 3 and 5 possible configurations. In other words, clicking between 3 and 5 buttons. Those screenshots show those buttons.
  • Hard means the initial learning for the Terminal option might require days or weeks. Thus, Hard initial learning curve. Because, first, as newcomer you need to learn the Terminal software itself, the option commands, and all their dependencies. Second, during configuring all of those you might have to learn up to 100 configurations. This documentation shows one of many examples of commands and their configuration.
    • F.A.Q.:
      • In this example above, in a worst case scenario, which would be closer to up to 100 configurations, what could those up 100 configurations be composed of?
        In answer to this question, if you are a newcomer not familiar with and never used: SSH; Terminal; Running commands; OpenWrt software; Upgrading any firmware; And dependencies and configurations of all of the above. Then, as newcomer, you might need to learn up to 100 configurations. Feel really free to choose any Terminal, configurations, commands, and upgrade option(s) to your liking. To clarify this answer, below is a list of one of many good examples of what learning up to 100 configurations could potentially be composed of:
        • Terminal software itself:
          • KDE Konsole. Its list of commands. Learning Konsole configurations.
        • Commands:
          • SSH commands
          • Sysupgrade commands
        • Dependencies for all of the above:
          • List
        • All of the above examples are not to confuse with neither an upgrading guide nor rigid requirements. It is an example to answer absolute newcomers F.A.Q. Again, it is your choice that will determine how many total configurations you really would have to learn during your initial learning curve. Best case scenario 1 configuration. Worst case scenario up to 100 configurations.
  • Mid means the initial learning for an option is somewhere in between Easy and Hard.

• GUI/LuCI means graphical user interface.
  Newcomers often prefer starting GUI. Because they need buttons they can click on to upgrade a device firmware. LuCI is the OpenWrt GUI. GUI initial learning curve is easier and faster. One main downside of GUI might be no scripting or limited advanced scripting.

• CLI column header means command line interface.
  Experts often prefer CLI. Because they need advanced scripting. After the CLI initial learning curve, CLI might be significantly faster than GUI and use less memory than GUI. In other words, more efficient.

• Preserve Config column header means preserving the configuration of the OpenWrt package(s) on upgrading.
  This assumes the option makes its best efforts to attempt this. In other words, if this attempt is successful, after upgrading, as newcomer, you do not need to reconfigure your OpenWrt package(s). When both appropriate and when used appropriately, this preserving configuration might be a big time saver. Each upgrade option can be configured to either preserve configuration or not preserve configuration.

• Script column header means advanced scripting. Options supporting advanced scripting might allow to, but not limited to, write your own script, do advanced automation, or remote access.

Disclaimer:

• In the unlikely event of conflicting information between a specific device page and this comparison table up above, the correct information is likely on the device information page. Either use your best judgment or you are welcome asking the OpenWrt community volunteers for help. The link to each device information page can be found in this new Table of Hardware (ToH), under the Page column, click on the appropriate link.