If you’re a tech enthusiast or network engineer looking for a powerful, low-cost embedded device to run OpenWrt, the Banana Pi R3 is an excellent choice. This guide will walk you through flashing OpenWrt to the Banana Pi R3 in a clear, step-by-step format that’s ideal for anyone working with embedded systems or open-source firmware.

The Banana Pi R3 is a high-performance single-board computer (SBC) built around the MediaTek MT7623A chipset, offering excellent performance and compatibility with OpenWrt. It’s a popular choice for home routers, IoT projects, and network infrastructure due to its low cost, compact size, and strong hardware support.

OpenWrt is a Linux-based firmware for embedded devices that provides advanced networking capabilities, including full router functionality, custom routing, firewall management, and more. Installing OpenWrt on your Banana Pi R3 router allows you to transform it into a powerful, customizable router or network appliance.

To flash the OpenWrt to my Banana Pi R3  tonight, I’m going to use a microSD card and a serial console. I’ll show you how to configure your device post-flash and optimize it for performance.

Why Use OpenWrt on Banana Pi R3?

Using OpenWrt on the Banana Pi R3 offers many advantages. OpenWrt provides full control over your network settings, enabling advanced features like custom routing, VPN support, QoS, and more. It’s also community-driven, meaning you can access a wide range of plugins, firmware builds, and updates. The Banana Pi R3 supports a wide range of wireless standards and Ethernet interfaces, making it ideal for building a high-performance router or access point.

Unlike stock firmware, OpenWrt gives you full control over network configuration, including firewall rules, DNS settings, and VLAN support. Additionally, OpenWrt supports advanced features like mesh networking, traffic shaping, and even software-defined radio (SDR) applications.

Hardware Requirements

Before beginning the installation process, ensure you have the following hardware:

  • Banana Pi R3 (the latest model with MediaTek MT7623A SoC)
  • A microSD card (at least 8GB, preferably 16GB or more)
  • A USB-TTL serial adapter (FT232RL-based is recommended)
  • An Ethernet cable (RJ45)
  • A Linux client (Ubuntu, Debian, or any Linux distribution with screen, ssh, scp, and dd utilities)
  • OpenWrt firmware image for the Banana Pi R3 ( .img.gz format from OpenWrt.org )

Step-by-Step Guide to Flashing OpenWrt on Banana Pi R3

Step 1: Prepare the SD Card

  1. Download the OpenWrt image for the Banana Pi R3 from the official OpenWrt website:
    • Visit OpenWrt Downloads
    • Search for mediatek-filogic-bananapi_bpi-r3-sdcard.img.gz
    • Download the latest image file.
  2. Extract the image: 
    xz -d openwrt-mediatek-filogic-bananapi_bpi-r3-sdcard.img.gz
  3. Write the image to the SD card: 
    sudo dd if=openwrt-mediatek-filogic-bananapi_bpi-r3-sdcard.img of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress
sync

    Replace /dev/sdX with the actual device name of your SD card (e.g., /dev/sdb).

Step 2: Connect the Serial Console

  1. Connect the USB-TTL adapter to the Banana Pi R3:
    • Yellow wire (GND) → GND on Banana Pi R3
    • Blue wire (TX) → RX on Banana Pi R3
    • Purple wire (RX) → TX on Banana Pi R3
    • Red wire (VCC) → Not connected (do not connect VCC)
  2. Set the jumpers on the FT232RL to 3.3V.
  3. Connect the FT232RL to your Linux client via USB.
  4. Open a terminal and connect to the serial console: 
    screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200

Step 3: Boot the Banana Pi R3 from SD Card

  1. Insert the prepared SD card into the Banana Pi R3.
  2. Connect the Ethernet cable to one of the LAN ports and your PC.
  3. Power on the Banana Pi R3.
  4. As soon as the device boots, press the arrow keys to enter the boot menu.
  5. Select the option to boot from the SD card.

Step 4: Initial Configuration

Once the system boots from the SD card:

  1. Log in as root (default password is usually empty or openwrt).
  2. Change the root password: 
    passwd
  3. Set the hostname: 
    uci set system.@system[0].hostname='bananapi'
uci commit sudo
reboot
  4. After reboot, connect to the web interface at: 
    http://192.168.1.1/cgi-bin/luci
  5. Configure your network settings, firewall, and other options.
  6. Export the configuration to ensure it persists after reboot.

Step 5: Flash OpenWrt to NAND (EMMC)

  1. After the second boot, enter the boot menu again.
  2. Select Flash to NAND using the arrow keys.
  3. Wait for the process to complete, then power off the device.
  4. Change the jumpers on the Banana Pi R3 to boot from the EMMC.
  5. Remove the SD card.
  6. Power on the device.
  7. In the boot menu, select Flash to EMMC.
  8. Wait for the process to finish, then reboot.

Conclusion

Flashing OpenWrt to the Banana Pi R3 is a straightforward process that opens up a world of customization and control for your networking needs. With this guide, you now have a fully functional OpenWrt router that’s both powerful and flexible. Whether you’re building a home network, a mesh network, or an IoT gateway, the Banana Pi R3 with OpenWrt is an ideal platform.