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Freetz-FAQ

This page answers some Frequently Asked Questions about Freetz. It is still under construction.

What is Freetz?: Freetz is a toolbox for developers and experienced users to build a modified firmware based on the original firmware for the DSL/LAN/WLAN/VoIP-Routers AVM Fritz!Box and T-Com Speedport (identical hardware) and to transfer this firmware to the device. There are many extension packets available, as well as the ability to remove unwanted functionality from the original firmware.

Where does the name Freetz come from?: It is a contraction of the word "free" and the name "Fritz", which should mirror the name of the devices manufactured by AVM. With this we want to symbolise that Freetz is free software. Because we want to avoid intellectual property problems with AVM, whose registered trademark "Fritz!" (with excalamation mark) we explicitly acknowledge, we have chosen this deliberately different spelling. The idea for the name came from Alexander Kriegisch (kriegaex), who decided together with Oliver Metz (olistudent) what the project should be called when the version-managed source code repository would be opened to the public. From the (in our opinion daft-sounding) alliteration "Free Fritz" we got "Freetz". ("OpenFritz" was also considered, but we didn't want to ape OpenWrt.) We don't claim that the name is fantastic, but it is short and hopefully easy to remember.

How should I pronounce Freetz?: Like the English word "free" with a German-sounding "tz" on the end, something like "freets".

How did Freetz start?: There are many predecessors to Freetz. A few years ago, Daniel Eiband (danisahne) started the Danisahne-Mod (DS-Mod) based on the previous work and cooperation of other creative people (Erik Andersen, Christian Volkmann, Andreas Bühmann, Enrik Berkhan and others). As with Freetz, this allowed and allows modified firmwares to be created, but only for older firmware-versions with Linux kernel 2.4. Since some routers still have firmwares based on the Linux 2.4 kernel, the version ds-0.2.9-p8 is still the current version for some hardware. For the majority of current hardware, the direkt predecessor of Freetz is however ds26 (latest version ds26-15.2), created by Oliver Metz, which is only suitable for firmware using Linux kernel 2.6. The same applies to Freetz as Freetz is currently nothing other than the current development version of ds26 with a new name. In many files you will therefore still find the name DS-Mod, which will gradually be replaced with the new name Freetz.

Why change the name, when DS-Mod has already become well-known?: There are multiple reasons. For one, Daniel has not been actively involved in the development of ds26 for well over a year. For another, he has already started a new project at SourceForge to develop a new DS-Mod from scratch - which we inoffically call DS-Mod NG (Next Generation) - for which the source code repository is publically available on the project website. We don't wish to take Daniel's project name from him, or to compete with him, but actually hope that he will eventually have more time for his project and that we will be able to combine both versions to have the strengths of both of them in one product. However, it is currently so, that the projects have split significantly; DS-Mod NG has a very clean structure, but is not yet finished whereas Freetz (previously ds26) is already widely used and is gradually being refactored during the process of development. Where DS-Mod was talked about in recent press coverage (e.g. PC-Welt), Freetz alias ds26 was meant.

I like Freetz and I want to support the development.: It is possible to donate money to the development team using the Paypal donation button in the bottom right-hand corner. Further, a specific hardware variation will of course be better supported when the development team have some test hardware. Currently we would very much benefit from some 7270s (who wouldn't?!). There is a thread on the topic of donations at IPPF.

Why is so much of Freetz and the development in German?: AVM is a German company, and their hardware is mainly sold in the German market, where it is very popular, and generally the German-language (and German telecoms-system) versions of their products are the first to be released. It is therefore not a suprise that the project started in Germany and most of the developers are German. There are some current ideas of how to make internationalisation better, and although most development discussions take place in German, English-language contributions are most welcome (and will usually be answered in English).

Can I get a finished binary of Freetz?: The short answer is no, and this is never likely to be possible. Freetz works by taking the original firmware and applying patches to it. Since the original firmwares contain software which is non-free, as well as some which is free, then we are not able to distribute finished binary versions. Given the number of permutations of modules and hardware then it would be impossible to meet all needs with a limited number of binaries and so is actually better to have users make their own firmwares.

How can I get Freetz?: See the Getting Started page for how to check out the source code and get started with Freetz. Note that this requires Linux (a Live-CD or Virtual-Machine version is ok if you do not want to fully install Linux on your computer). Please make sure that you have basic Linux skills before requesting help as this will make your and our lives easier.