If you want OpenWrt on an IPQ5018 device today:
Fix: The IPQ5018 runs at ~70°C passively. If it hits 90°C+, install lm-sensors and create a user script to throttle the CPU governor to conservative (default is performance).
Several AX1800 routers from TP-Link utilize this platform. Ipq5018 Openwrt
Use adblock-fast (DNS-based). The IPQ5018’s 512MB+ RAM (typical) handles 1 million blocked domains easily.
Disclaimer: This assumes your device is officially supported. Check the OpenWrt Table of Hardware first. If you want OpenWrt on an IPQ5018 device
Method A: The "Uboot" way (Recovery) Most IPQ5018 routers come with a built-in emergency recovery via Uboot.
Method B: Via SSH (If stock firmware allows) Several AX1800 routers from TP-Link utilize this platform
# Copy firmware to /tmp
scp openwrt.bin root@192.168.1.1:/tmp
# Flash using mtd (Be careful!)
ssh root@192.168.1.1 "mtd write /tmp/openwrt.bin firmware && reboot"
To get the most out of this SoC, you must enable Hardware Offloading. Without it, the CPU will cap at ~300 Mbps.
If you are reading this, you are likely interested in replacing your router's stock firmware with OpenWrt. However, the IPQ5018 presents a unique challenge compared to older chips like the IPQ4018 or IPQ806x.
Here is the current landscape of IPQ5018 support in OpenWrt:
Unlike older MIPS architectures, the IPQ5018 is a dual-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor clocked at 1.0 GHz. It includes: