# openwrt-dlink-dir842-r1: OpenWrt port informed by Realtek datapath research

> openwrt-dlink-dir842-r1 ports OpenWrt to the D-Link DIR-842 R1 using a pinned base checkout and device-specific overlays. Its engineering notes investigate the RTL8197F and RTL8367S network path, switch setup and hardware NAT, while the build produces RAM-boot and NOR-flash firmware images.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Firmware
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-08
- Original resource: <https://github.com/ADCDS/openwrt-dlink-dir842-r1>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/ADCDS/openwrt-dlink-dir842-r1/blob/229536d89c25a676417717304fcef386a53a7875/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/openwrt-dlink-dir842-r1-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/openwrt-dlink-dir842-r1-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/openwrt-dlink-dir842-r1-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** D-Link DIR-842 hardware revision R1 with RTL8197F.
- **Prerequisites:** Back up the unit's NOR flash before flashing; recovery may require a serial connection.
- **Testing evidence:** The author reports 891 Mbit/s upstream and 896 Mbit/s downstream in a hardware-NAT bench test.
- **License:** GPL-2.0 license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/ADCDS/openwrt-dlink-dir842-r1/blob/229536d89c25a676417717304fcef386a53a7875/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/ADCDS/openwrt-dlink-dir842-r1/blob/229536d89c25a676417717304fcef386a53a7875/docs/README.md>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.