Compile Software on AX58U v2 possible ?

[Coffee087]

Hi I have an AX58U v2 with asuswrt merlin firmware, out of curiosity I connected to the router via SSH. That works too, now my question is, is it possible to compile programs on the router? My focus here is on TVheadend, which I would like to compile, is that possible or has someone already done that?

 

[ColinTaylor]

I've never heard of TVheadend but it looks like it's included in the Entware repository.

# opkg info tvheadend
Package: tvheadend
Version: 2023-06-05-2
Depends: libc, libssp, librt, libpthread, librt, libffi, libopenssl, libiconv-full, zlib, libdvbcsa
Status: unknown ok not-installed
Section: multimedia
Architecture: aarch64-3.10
Size: 10023108
Filename: tvheadend_2023-06-05-2_aarch64-3.10.ipk
Description: Tvheadend is a TV streaming server and recorder for Linux, FreeBSD and Android
 supporting DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-C, DVB-T, ATSC, IPTV, SAT>IP and HDHomeRun as input sources.
 Tvheadend offers the HTTP (VLC, MPlayer), HTSP (Kodi, Movian) and SAT>IP streaming.

 

[DJones]

Further you’ll want to use Gnuton for this a fork of Merlin. Only the rt-ax58u v1 is supported directly by Merlin. Gnuton handles the v2

GitHub - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng: Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers

Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

github.com

 

[Coffee087]

@DJones yes, that is the firmware that I flashed.

@ColinTaylor How can I install the version of tvheadend? Sorry for the questions, this is new to me and I would like to test it. What kind of Linux distro is used on the router?

 

[Tech9]

What kind of Linux distro is used on the router?

Custom for this specific device with only what is needed.

 

[ColinTaylor]

@ColinTaylor How can I install the version of tvheadend? Sorry for the questions, this is new to me and I would like to test it. What kind of Linux distro is used on the router?

The router doesn't run a Linux distro. It runs an embedded OS with a Linux kernel designed for low spec devices. Its functionality can be expanded through the use of Entware packages but it lacks support for many things, e.g. a desktop GUI, most hardware peripherals, etc.

Entware

Third party firmware for Asus routers (newer codebase) - RMerl/asuswrt-merlin.ng

github.com

 

[Crimliar]

What are you trying to do with TV Headend? As an IPTV streamer, you might just about get it to run for a single client. But if you've a USB TV card plugged into the router, I think you may struggle to get the devices to work.
*I've used this on a Rpi4 with dedicated decoder board, and it was good at the time - but i'd tend to think that time has passed!

 

[Coffee087]

@ColinTaylor OK, if a Linux kernel is available, I can also do e.g. compile tvheadend for myself right?

@Crimliar I would like to try to run TVheadend and Oscam on the router, of course I could also just use my Enigma2 box. This is just a test to see if it would work in principle

 

[DJones]

@ColinTaylor OK, if a Linux kernel is available, I can also do e.g. compile tvheadend for myself right?

@Crimliar I would like to try to run TVheadend and Oscam on the router, of course I could also just use my Enigma2 box. This is just a test to see if it would work in principle

Unlike a normal Linux distro you cannot simply upgrade the Linux kernel on an embedded OS like you would on something like Ubuntu if I’m understanding your question correctly. If you built the firmware from GPL sure you could modify the system itself opposed to entware which adds additional features, but works within the confines of the embedded system.

However there is dependencies and closed source code that relies on this kernel so if you modified the kernel version you would likely break more functionality then improve eg. wifi, trend micro, broadcom related code. Not saying you can’t “technically” do it but way outside the scope of normal and what anyone here can help you with.

ASUS Routers shouldn’t be treated like a generic computer, it comes with trade offs that you have to decide are worth it if you want to use entware or custom software. Most things you’d find in an all purpose NAS device won’t work here and would be too performance demanding.