Building on PyCI, build a Wizard-based GUI for configuring a SOHO router (internet gateway). It will ask probing questions first and then determine what other details it needs from teh user to configure the router. It will then build a configured openwrt image and push it out the router. It will support updates to the core openWRT image. From the user perspective, it will appear as an application they install/uninstall to try to take the "scary" out.
Video overview of PyCI (no audio) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH5_zvWASww
Flickr photo stream from PyCI author (screenshots of PyCI and related "Escape from Web" module) http://www.flickr.com/photos/18175109@N00/tags/pyci/
Contestant entry at Ubiquiti http://www.ubnt.com/wiki/index.php/RouterStationChallenge_PyCI
Forum Posts of PyCI Author http://www.ubnt.com/forum/search.php?searchid=128086
Slashdot article and user comments where i first found out about PyCI (there are links to the other two contest winners as well) http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/11/06/0030256/Ubiquiti-Announces-RouterStation-Challenge-Winners
Here's another GUI-based router configuration tool but the average user will not be able to operate it. Firewall Builder.
I have a RouterStation Pro that can take up to three mini-pci cards. I really only need one but maybe i can make my project a bit more interesting if i had multiple. Intended audience includes heavy-usage internet users that will require the most out of their routers. Think netflix or games. I was picking thru my parts bin when I found my old PCI wireless card and had the urge to open the aluminum box on it. It was hiding a mini-pci wireless radio card, ha! I remember chunking it to my parts bin some years ago because the antenna always came loose and hanged upside down on the back of my PC tower. I will find out soon enuff if it will work for my router station.
