LibreCMC

Last updated
LibreCMC
Dark libreCMC Logo.png
OS family Linux (Unix-like)
Working stateActive
Initial release20 October 2012;11 years ago (2012-10-20)
Latest release v6.1 / 26 August 2024
Repository
Available in English
Platforms MIPS
Kernel type Monolithic (Linux-libre)
Userland GNU
License GPLv2 [1] [2]
Preceded by LEDE/LibreWRT
Official website librecmc.org OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

LibreCMC is a Linux-libre distribution for computers with minimal resources, such as the Ben NanoNote, ath9k-based Wi-Fi routers, and other hardware with emphasis on free software. Based on OpenWrt, the project's goal is to aim for compliance with the GNU Free System Distribution Guidelines (GNU FSDG) and ensure that the project continues to meet these requirements set forth by the Free Software Foundation (FSF). LibreCMC does not support ac (Wi-Fi 5) or ax (Wi-Fi 6) due to a lack of free chipsets. [3]

Contents

As of 2020, releases do not utilize codenames anymore. The acronym "CMC" in the libreCMC name stands for "Concurrent Machine Cluster". [4]

History

On April 23, 2014, libreCMC's first public release is mentioned in a Trisquel Linux forum. [5] On September 4, 2014, the Free Software Foundation (FSF) added libreCMC to its list of endorsed distributions. [6] [7] Shortly afterwards, on September 12, 2014, the FSF awarded their Respects Your Freedom (RYF) Certification to a new router pre-installed with libreCMC. [8]

On May 2, 2015, libreCMC merged with the LibreWRT project. [9] [10] [11] [12] LibreWRT, initially developed as a case study, was listed by the website prism-break.org [13] as one of the alternatives to proprietary firmware, [14] but today the website lists libreCMC.

On March 10, 2016, the FSF awarded their RYF certification to a new router pre-installed with libreCMC. [15]

On March 29, 2017, libreCMC began its first release based upon the LEDE (Linux Embedded Development Environment) 17.01 codebase. [16]

On January 3, 2020, libreCMC began its first release based upon the OpenWrt 19.07 codebase. [16]

Release history

VersionCodenameCodebaseReleaseLinux-Libre Kernel VersionAnnotation / Improvements
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.2.xDelusional Dan [17] 2014First public binary release [17]
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.3.xElegant Eleanor [17] 2015LibreWRT merged to the project, LTS
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4Frivolous Fred [17] LEDE 17.0129 March 2017Release based on LEDE
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.17 October 2017Fixes various security issues (including dnsmasq and openvpn)
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.1a17 October 2017Fixes various security issues including: dnsmasq, openvpn and KRACK
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.21 January 20184.4.108
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.31 April 20184.4.120
  • openvpn 2.4.5
  • mbedtls 2.8.0
  • Tor was moved into base
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.46 July 20184.4.138
  • openvpn 2.4.6
  • mbedtls 2.9.0
  • Various other fixes
  • Complete removal of references to GitHub repositories
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.54 October 20184.4.159
  • wireguard 0.0.20181006
  • Introduced TL-WR1043N v5
  • Various other fixes
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.64 Jan 20194.4.167
  • uhttpd 2018-11-28
  • Wireguard 0.0.20181218
  • openssl 1.0.2q
  • mbedtls 2.14.1
  • Various other fixes
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.71 April 2019
  • Fixes CVE 2019-8912
  • Bump OpenVPN to 2.4.7
  • Added support for the TPE-R1200
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.830 June 20194.4.183
  • OpenSSL 1.0.2s
  • wolfssl 1.15-stable
  • mbedtls 1.16.1
  • Wireguard 0.2019.06.01
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.92 October 20194.4.195
  • OpenSSL 1.0.2t
  • Tor 0.4.1.6
  • Wireguard 0.0.20190913
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5N/AOpenWRT 19.073 January 2020
  • ath79 replaces ar71xx targets
  • tiny sub-target replaces the old legacy images
  • First release built on Power9 hardware
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.0aN/A31 January 2020
  • Fixes CVE - 2020-7982
  • Fixes CVE - 2020-7248
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.1N/A1 April 20204.14.173
  • Updated Wireguard to 1.0.20200330
  • Updated Tor to 0.4.2.7 to fix CVE - 2020-10592 and init script issues
  • Fixes CVE - 2020-8597
  • Other fixes picked from upstream 19.07.x
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.2N/A29 June 2020
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.3N/A2 October 20204.14.199
  • Updated Wireguard to 1.0.20200908
  • Added wolfssl support to luci
  • OpenSSL 1.1.1h
  • Mbedtls 2.16.8
  • Other fixes picked from upstream 19.07.x
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.4N/A31 December 20204.14.212
  • Updated Wireguard to 1.0.20201221
  • OpenSSL 1.1.1i
  • OpenVPN 2.4.10
  • Fixes CVE-2020-28928, CVE-2020-8037
  • Other fixes picked from upstream 19.07.x
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.4aN/A24 January 20214.14.216
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.5N/A1 April 20214.14.224
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.7N/A1 October 20214.14.248
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.8N/A21 January 20224.14.261
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.9N/A4 April 20224.14.273
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.10N/A28 June 20224.14.284
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.12N/A24 January 20234.14.303
  • wolfssl 5.5.4-stable
  • openssl 1.1.1s
  • Adds support for the TPE-R1400, a rockchip RK3328 based router
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.13N/A1 April 20234.14.311
  • openssl 1.1.1t
  • openvpn 2.5.8, which adds wolfssl support
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.14N/A29 September 20234.14.325
  • openssl 1.1.1w
  • wolfssl 5.6.3
  • openvpn 2.5.9
  • tor 0.4.8.5
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.15N/A31 December 20234.14.334
  • wolfssl 5.6.6
Current stable version:6.1N/A26 August 20245.15.164
  • wolfssl 5.7.2

List of supported hardware

LibreCMC supports the following devices: [18]

Buffalo (Melco subsidiary)

Netgear

TP-Link

ThinkPenguin

Qi-Hardware

See also

Related Research Articles

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Router software requires updating to stay secure, this comparison provides an overview of third party options.

References

  1. ↑ "libreCMC 1.5.x LICENSE file" . Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  2. ↑ "List of Free GNU/Linux Distributions" . Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "libreCMC FAQ". librecmc.org. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  4. ↑ "libreCMC: libreCMC". 2014-07-12. Archived from the original on 2014-07-12. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  5. ↑ "LibreCMC: Free Software Router Distribution Beta | Trisquel GNU/Linux - Run free!". 2014-04-23. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  6. ↑ "Free Software Foundation adds libreCMC to its list of endorsed distributions — Free Software Foundation — Working together for free software". www.fsf.org. 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  7. ↑ "Free Software Supporter - Issue 78, September 2014 — Free Software Foundation — Working together for free software". www.fsf.org. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  8. ↑ "ThinkPenguin wireless router now FSF-certified to respect your freedom — Free Software Foundation — Working together for free software". www.fsf.org. 2014-09-12. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  9. ↑ "libreCMC: The libre embedded GNU/Linux distro". 2015-09-06. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  10. ↑ "libreCMC Project News". 2 May 2015. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  11. ↑ "LibreWRT: What we use for wifi at the FSF — Free Software Foundation — working together for free software". www.fsf.org. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
  12. ↑ "List of Free GNU/Linux Distributions - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation".
  13. ↑ "Looking to hide online? PRISM-break shows you how". Telecom Tech News. 2013-06-14. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  14. ↑ Zhong, Peng. "LibreWRT - Projects - PRISM Break". Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  15. ↑ "ThinkPenguin VPN mini-router now FSF-certified to respect your freedom — Free Software Foundation — Working together for free software". www.fsf.org. 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  16. 1 2 3 Version-Releases of LibreCMC. Website of the software developer. Accessed on June the 19th in 2019
  17. 1 2 3 4 "libreCMC : The libre Embedded GNU/Linux[-libre] distro". 2016-10-27. Archived from the original on 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  18. ↑ "libreCMC: Supported_Hardware". librecmc.org.
  19. ↑ "Free Software Gigabit Mini VPN Router (TPE-R1400) from ThinkPenguin, Inc. now FSF-certified to Respect Your Freedom — Free Software Foundation — Working together for free software". www.fsf.org. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
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