SoC (System on a Chip)

Each different OpenWrt platform represents a family of SoCs from the software point of view. This means, we can use the same compiler options and the same drivers to get them working with OpenWrt. The different functionalities can be contained on single chip or on multiple chips soldered to a circuit board.

The most crucial component of any SoC is the CPU. The company that designs the SoC, purchases the specifications for a certain CPU model from a company that designs CPUs, e.g. MIPS Technologies or ARM Holdings either as Soft-IP or as SIP.

One or multiple CPUs are combined with other components, such as

Northbridge (computing) and Southbridge (computing) functionality components, e.g. AMBA, UART, SATA, USB, etc.
GPU(s), e.g. VideoCore, PowerVR GPUs, nVidia GPUs, ARM Mali_(disambiguation) GPUs, etc.
other PUs (for VoIP, etc) →Digital signal processor
NIC
WNIC
you name it

The actual production of the chip is then executed by a semiconductor foundry.

Manufacturers

Most SoC manufacturers license a (soft or hard) IP core for a certain CPU design from a licensor like MIPS or ARM, then combine this with other (self-developed or licensed) (soft or hard) IP cores for DSP-, wireless-, VoIP-, Sound-, Switch-, etc-functionality and commission the manufacturing of Chips at some semiconductor foundry. These Chips, SoCs, are acquired by different manufacturers of Routers. The latter design PCBs for whatever purpose and solder the purchased chips (SoC, RAM, Flash) onto them.

A List of SoC Manufacturers:

Name	ARCH
Broadcom	MIPS
Infineon	MIPS
Marvell	ARM
Marvell	ARM
Qualcomm Atheros	MIPS
Ralink	MIPS
Texas Instuments	MIPS
Lantiq	MIPS
Conexant/Ikanos	ARM
Conexant/Ikanos	PPC

For a List of Devices and Manufacturers, simply have look at the Table of Hardware.

Platforms

Atheros

Boards based on the old Atheros AR231x/AR5312 CPUs. The AR531x/231x is a platform by Atheros, which is used for dual-band and single-band 108Mb/s routers and APs. It is also referred as a WiSoC - Wireless System-on-a-Chip, and the radio inside often refereed as RoC - Radio-on-a-Chip as it is contained on a distinct chip.

1. AR5001 generation (802.11a only)

AR5001AP (AR5311 CPU + AR5111 5GHz RoC)

2. AR5002 generation (first dual-band designs)

AR5002AP-A (AR2312 CPU + AR5122 5GHz RoC)
AR5002AP-G (AR2312 CPU + AR2112 2.4GHz RoC)
AR5002AP-X (AR2312 CPU + AR5112 2.4/5GHz RoC)
AR5002AP-2X (AR5312 CPU + AR5112 2.4/5GHz RoC + AR2112 2.4GHz RoC)

3-4. AR5003 and AR5004 generation (Super-AG technology) The AR5003 got merged into the AR5004. The new WiSoCs are/were in production, but they were not announced.

AR2313
AR5213
AR2314

5. AR5005 generation (MIMO technology, onboard AES engine, serial flash)

AR5005VA (AR5513 CPU + AR5112 RoC)
AR5005VL (AR5513 CPU + AR5112 RoC)

6. AR5006 generation (single-chip solutions)

AR5006AP-G (AR2315) - 54Mbps only
AR5006AP-GS (AR2316)
AR5315

7. AR5007 generation (radical decrease of Bill of materials)

AR5007AP-G (AR2317)

Devices

Bufallo WER-AM54G54 (AR5002AP-2X)
D-Link DI-524, at least HW rev C1 (AR2313), but it only has 8MB RAM and 1MB ROM.
D-Link DWL-2210AP (AR2313)
D-Link DWL-2100AP (AR5002AP-G : core AR2312@180/240MHz, radio AR2112)
D-Link DWL-7100AP (AR5002AP-2X)
D-Link DWL-774 (AR5002AP-2X) (discontinued)
LevelOne WBR-3405TX : AR2313A and Marvell 88E6060 switch
Micronet SP918GL Product Link (AR2313A) seems to be identical with D-Link DWL-2210AP
Meraki Mini (AR2315) - source available for Meraki's own Linux port
MicraDigital/Belkin F5D7230 (ver.1020ec) (AR2315A)
Netgear WGR614v3.
Netgear WGT624 Product link (AR5002AP-G) (v2 AR5001AP)
Netgear WG102 (AR2313)
Senao NL-5354 AP1 Aries2 (AR5002AP-2X)
Senao NL-3054 AP3 Aries2 (AR2313)
Siemens SE551 (AR2316)
Wistron CA8-4/CE8-1 aka Ovislink WLA-5000AP, LinkPro WLT-108AAP, Diswire CAP2/5 (AR5002AP-X)
Wistron CR8-2 aka LinkPro WLT-108AAR (AR5002AP-2X)
Smc WEBT-G aka Philips SNR6500 aka Siemens Wlan Repeater 108 (AR2316)
X-Micro XWL-11GRAG : AR5002AP-G (AR2312A+AR2112) and Marvell 88E6060

ar71xx

Boards based on current Atheros AR71xx/AR7240/AR913x CPUs.

1. Atheros AR9100 routers As of January 2009, active work is under way to get OpenWrt running well on these routers. AR9132 400Mhz MIPS CPU seems to be on all models, Das U-Boot is the most frequent bootloader, all seem to have 32MB of RAM and at least 4MB of FLASH. The CPU is typically paired with the AR9102 (2x2 MIMO), or AR9103 (3x3 MIMO) radio chip. Check the Kamikaze forums for latest information.

Devices

= AP81 Routers =

Trendnet TEW-632BRP, AP81-AR9130-RT-070614-00, ar9102 2x2 MIMO, 2 removable antennas
Trendnet TEW-652BRP, AP81-AR9130-RT-080609-05, ar9102 2x2 MIMO, 2 removable antennas
D-Link DIR-615 revision C1, AP81-AR9130-RT-080609-05, ar9102 2x2 MIMO
Netgear WNR2000, unknown hardware ID, ar9103 3x3 MIMO, internal antennas
TP-Link TL-WR941N or TL-WR941ND, unknown hardware ID, ar9103 3x3 MIMO, 3 removable antennas. details: http://network.pconline.com.cn/pingce/0803/1252528_5.html
Netgear WN802T version 2 (WN802Tv2), suggested on this page http://blog.chinaunix.net/u2/83623/showart_1353786.html
Planex MZK-W300NH, unknown hardware ID, ar9102 2x2 MIMO, 8MB flash
Planex MZK-W04NU, unknown hardware ID, ar9103 3x3 MIMO, 8MB flash, 1 USB port included, 3 removable antennas
Atlantiland A02-RB-W300N
Cameo Communications WLN2206, FCC id same as Trendnet TEW-632BRP according to SmallNetBuilder website
Mercury MWR300T+, ar9103 3x3 MIMO, details: http://bbs.whbear.com/thread-62276-1-1.html - probably a clone of the TL-WR941ND, because it uses the same firmware.
Zyxel model NBG-420N
Zyxel models NBG-460N, X550N, X550NH, 401764. They run ZyOS (not Linux) but the bootloader seems flexible. Info: http://en.network01.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=15&forum=2

= AP83 Routers =

Unex RNRA-83, http://www.unex.com.tw/spec/rnra-83
Unex RNEA-81: AP83 AR9130+AR9104
ARADA SoC Econo Series 2
Linksys WAP-4410N, if you read the release notes for the firmware on this router you will clearly see AP83 reference.