Improving device pages

[wwahammy]

In this forum thread, a number of folks discussed ideas for improving device pages.

Some suggestions were:

• A clean details page explaining basic installation/configuration for the specific device, the basic specs, and recovery mode (if one exists).
  • A subpage with more detailed information including boot logs, teardowns, serial pinouts, etc
• a possible template for a device page: http://wiki.openwrt.org/meta/template_device

[richb-hanover]

In addition to the basic installation/configuration for a specific device the device page should also have a link to the most current (stable) version of firmware that is known to work. For example, current routers should have a link to the BB build. An older router might only link to the AA image if BB won't run on it...

[zo0ok]

I had a look at the possible template above. A "details page" may cover several rows in the ToH (different versions of the same model, where the difference is significant enough to reflect in the ToH).

So, when we come to the "details page" I think it is important to have a few things in mind:

• all info in th ToH should be "dynamically" reflected in the "details page", rather than added seperately
• the details page need to be clear about what ToH-rows it covers
• the Supported Versions need to be particularly clear about its relationship to ToH-rows.

We clearly need to find some simple model, and a rather complex one, and try it out.

Also, sometimes rather different hardware are covered in the same detail pages:

• http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr7500
• http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr4900

However, sometimes almost identical hardware have different detail pages

• http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr3500
• http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr3600
• http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wdr4300

I think we need guidelines here. The WDR3600 and WDR4300 clearly has more things in common than the WDR4900 v1 and v2 have. Except the name.

[richb-hanover]

Just to add to the complexity of the model: Do the Netgear 3700/3800 routers provide another variation of detail pages?

The Netgear WNDR3700v1, WNDR3700v2, WNDR37AV, and WNDR3800 are virtually identical save for the RAM/Flash memory. (The current Device Pages state this, and as further confirmation, both were used interchangeably in the CeroWrt project by some very fussy developers...)

WNDR3700: http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/netgear/wndr3700 WNDR3800: http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/netgear/wndr3800

What convention(s) should we apply for such similar routers? It is madness to repeat the installation instructions (for example) on both pages, as they will drift apart over time.

And how do we intend to incorporate the new ToH info on these pages?