TechInfoDepot:DD-WRT/WinSCP

Introduction

For Windows XP (or other varients), this article is just an explanation on how to use WinSCP to transfer files and manage folders on the writable storage areas within the router. A lot of articles refer to using WinSCP in the DD-WRT Wiki, however few go into any detail, assuming instead the user knows how to use WinSCP or even what it is.

WinSCP gives a norton-commander like interface for transferring files and creating folders on the router.

Getting Started Guide

1. Enable SSH in the Web administration page of the router.
2. Download WinSCP and install it.
3. Launch the program. Under Session, enter:
   • Host name: Router's IP address
   • User name: Always 'root'. Even if you have changed the username for the web interface.
   • Password: router password
   • Optional: Private key file: Only if you are using private/public key authentication, instead of the router username/password. See Public Key authentication
   • File Protocol: SCP, not SFTP
4. You can save the session now for later use.
5. When connecting there is a 'command 'groups' ' error and possibly a 'pwd' error. Ignore these. *
6. Then the window appears of the file manager. Local content is on the left, router content on the right.

* To get rid of this annoying warnings add this to your startup script:

export PATH=/tmp/bin:\$PATH
echo > /tmp/bin/groups "#!/bin/sh 
echo 'root'" 
/bin/chmod +x /tmp/bin/groups

Uses and Warnings

• WinSCP can be used to save information on the DD-WRT-enabled device on any rw-able space. This is normally /jffs, /mmc or /mnt, /opt

rw-space has to be enabled first. See: Jffs for /jffs, see SD Card Modification for /mmc, and USB storage for /mnt. Also see Optware for /opt in connection with jffs, sd card or usb

About editing scripts on a Microsoft's Windows platform: Do Not use Notepad to write or edit the script files - it messes up the <line break> linux codes. WinSCP has a built-in editor which formats correctly for Unix.

The following applications can also save Unix-formatted files:

• Notepad++
• jedit
• EditPadLite Free version of EditPadPro
• or unix2dos and dos2unix utility to convert the file.
• Has this been tested?: Programmer's Notepad
• UltraEdit from IDM Computer Solutions, Inc. This has been tested.

Microsoft platforms use Carriage Return and New Line codes at the end of each line, within text files. Unix only uses New Line, and almost all other operating systems are similar to Unix, not Windows.

export PATH=/tmp/bin:\$PATH echo > /tmp/bin/groups "#!/bin/sh echo 'root'" /bin/chmod +x /tmp/bin/groups

Use WinSCP to automatically mirror PC files to a DD-WRT Device

Edit html files locally with your favorite website editor (Dreamweaver or SeaMonkey), and have WinSCP update the DD-WRT device copies automatically.

While connected to the router with WinSCP,

1. Manually drag the content on the right to the left.
   Creates a copy of the folder or files on your computer of the folder on the router.
2. Click on the left side, then choose, Keep Remote Directory Up To Date...
3. Click once on Sycronize on Start (unchecked).
4. Click Start.
5. WinSCP updates the information on the router whenever the mirror on the local computer is modified (I.E. Saved in Dreamweaver).