NO_FTP as an useful extra option for Routers with very small flash (WRT54xxx, E1000x & Co.)

Issue #15 invalid
TheHiman created an issue

I think it is a good idea to add an new config-option to the main makefile: “NO_FTP” for small images.

I work with some older WRT54xx Routers and E1000 Models which lacks of enough free flash memory.

Because many users only need this devices as extra accesspoints and have no need for an vsftp (and SSL-ftp), it makes
highly sense to EXCLUDE the default FTP and and add a new config option “NO_FTP” which includes NO_FTP and NO_SSL_FTP)

I made some good working images by manualy add the few config lines to the main makefile and this results in a few KB more space. So now the JFFSv1 is again possible on WRT54xx devices with a few 100KB free space for small scripts.

My further suggestion for “extra small images” is anyway to use “NO_SAMBA NO_XXTP NO_FTP NO_ZEBRA” and when still not
enough free space left then i add “NO_HTTPS”. This gives anyway room to enable CTF=y on the smalest devices because of the saved space.

I know this option make more sense in the MIPS Issue-section, but the options makes sense for the ARM-Branch, too

A minimal testbuild which where i just modified mssl/curl on a EA6700 Router resulted in a “mini-basic-VPN” image of 8 MB.
Still i have TOR, DNSCRYPT, STUBBY, IPSEC included. Any mediaserver related extras, samba, ftp i have removed.
The USB-extras are only needed for LTE Multiwan Functions.

A good usecase is to put such an router in the trunk of a car to have a faster booting and good working mobile 3G/4G/5G-Router
and only the things you need for 1 main WLAN, a 1 GUEST-WLAN and some VPN-Services to overcome the typical mobile provider blockings and got a static IP in your car. This works way better as using regulary mobiles inside the “farradys cage”, because the router is connected to outdoor car LTE-Antennas which is a need in areas of a massive missing land coverage (-> Germany!!) 🙂

One extra nice feature is that you have often internet around the car when you are in a shop and inside of the shop no mobile network works. This helps to still stay online and you are not forced to use the often existing “free unencryted WIFI-APs” from the shop which are often used to spy on users activity by the shop owners 🙂

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