DD-WRT Wireless Switch Dhcp Forward
In the following guide I will be showing you how to turn a DD-WRT modded Linksys wireless router into a wireless switch that will get its ip addresses from another router. This setup will allow for easy network management and configuration due to Dhcp forwarding. What you will need for this tutorial is a modded router that has the DD-WRT firmware and another router that will provide the dhcp server for your local area network. In the following tutorial my lan setup is as follows.
- Gateway / DHCP Server: 10.0.0.1
- Network: 10.0.0.0
- Broadcast: 10.0.0.255
- Subnet: 255.255.255.0
- DD-WRT Router: 10.0.0.2
The first thing that you must do to setup your wireless switch is log into your modded DD-WRT router and click on the Setup tab. After you have selected the setup tab, then you will need to click on the Basic tab. Within the Basic tab you will need to change the routers ip address, so you will be allowed to access the DD-WRT router settings after it is connected to your local area network. Within the Basic tab you need to set the following settings to allow your DD-WRT wireless router to become a wireless switch.
- Local Ip Address: 10.0.0.2
- Subnet: 255.255.255.0
- Gateway: 10.0.0.1
- Local Dns: 10.0.0.1
Wan Port:
- Assign Wan port to switch enabled
Network address server settings dhcp:
- Dhcp Type: dhcp forwarder
- Dhcp Server: 10.0.0.1
After you have set the above information all you need to do is click the save button and the apply settings button. You should now have a modded DD-WRT router that is acting as a wireless switch that will receive its ip addresses from a second router.
I tried this, and obtaining an IP address from the Gateway (10.0.0.1) works fine, but the router doesn’t forward DNS requests to 10.0.0.1, so I can’t actually use this configuration…
Did you set the ip on the router to 10.0.0.2 or any other ip other then 10.0.0.1?
Yes. However, it started working afterwards, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t change anything. Maybe it needed to refresh something. Anyway, sorry for the noise.
Your tutorial worked great. I did got a small problem though. The settings for the dchp forwarder router refused to save a couple of times. idk maybe it’s the hardware’s fault i used a Asus WL-520GC modded with dd-wrt. After i managed to get all the settings saved, it worked like a charm
Hello,
¿do you know how can I configure the router to obtain the local IP from the DHCP Server? In your example you have assign the Local Ip 10.0.0.2, but I wish that this IP will be assigned by the DHCP Server.
Thanks
Ok I figured out a way for you to be able to allow your dd-wrt router to get its ip address from a dhcp server. The only problem with this setup is that your dd-wrt router will now have two ip addresses on your local network, but this will allow you to access the router from both ip addresses. The first thing that you will do is go into the Setup –> Basic Setup tab.
WAN Setup
WAN Connection Type: Automatic Configuration – DHCP
Network Setup
Local Ip Address: 10.0.0.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 10.0.0.1
DNS: 10.0.0.1
Network Address Server Settings (DHCP)
DHCP Type: Forwarder
DHCP Server: 10.0.0.1
Check out this image for help
Then go to the Setup –> VLANs and assign vlan 0 and 1 to lan.
Most importantly after you save the settings, make sure that the ethernet cable is plugged into port 1 on the dd-wrt router. Don’t plug the ethernet cable into the internet port on the dd-wrt router or your internet service will not work. If you have any problems once you move the ethernet cable over into port 1, just unplug the power cable and plug it back in. I hope this helps you out.
Hi..
I have similar query…
First of all, this is the setup:
I have 1 Belkin router with its own firmware and 2 D-Link DIR 600 routers modded with DD-WRT.
Belkin is connected directly to my Internet Modem through WAN Port. its providing DHCP Service.
1st Desktop is connected to Belkin router through an Ethernet Switch.
1st DIR 600 router is connected to Belkin router through Ethernet Switch
2nd DIR 600 router is connected to 1st DIR 600 with “Wireless Bridge”
2nd Desktop is connected to 2nd DIR 600 with LAN port.
I am able to ping all the 3 routers and 1st Desktop from the 2nd Desktop. That means Wireless Bridge seems to be working. Although m not able to see it working under Status -> Wireless -> Wireless Nodes
When i connect my iPod Touch to Belkin Router with WiFi Connection, it works fine..
Now the problem is…
when i try to connect Ipod or Laptop to either DIR 600 Routers, it doesnt get its IP Addresses from DHCP, hence could not connect properly…
But when i connect Laptop to either DIR 600 Routers with LAN port (Wired Connection), it works fine..
I am not able to diagnose the problem…
The best way to troubleshoot this is by starting at the source and working out through your network. So we already know that the wireless works from the Belkin router. I would then unplug the 2nd Dir 600 router from the electrical and see if you can connect to the 1st Dir with wireless and see if that works. What your are trying to do is create a wireless switch/bridge on your 1st Dir router and a wireless Access point on the 2nd Dir router. So set your 1st Dir router according to this tutorial. Then refer to http://www.server-servers.com/dd-wrt-wireless-bridge-using-linksys-160n-and-wrt54gs/ for the second router. I hope this helps you out.
Hi..
Thanks for the response…
I carried out several experiments with the setup the way you have suggested.
What I figured out is,
When I enable WDS between 2 DIR routers, I cant connect devices to these routers “Wirelessly” but I am able to connect those devices with a wired connection to either DIR routers.
Cant we use WDS to connect clients with wireless connection???
I am a little disappointed with this fact..
Please tell me that i am wrong….
You should be able to use WDS to connect to the clients. Take a look at this page, this might help you out. http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/WDS_Linked_router_network
Thanks..Its working now…
I had read that page before…but missed out a part on “Multiple WLAN”
just need to create Virtual AP and done..(with only a couple of clicks)
Hey, thx so much for the article. But I’m having problemss
First off, the settings that u have listed for us to use, are those universal or where they simply specific to your router.
Here’s my situation:
I have a modem thing in my basement that has 4 ethernet ports for around the house as well as built in wifi.
I’m trying to run a home server, but only have 1 monitor, so I decided to run the server machine right next to my desktop, and I would use an old router to basically make the one ethernet wall port into 2 so that I could get internet to both machines, but also use the 1 monitor (switching monitor cables whenever needed). Well I installed ddwrt on it, and I want to ssh to the server from an upstairs room. Yet I can never connect becuase I believe the router acts as an external network, and thus I found this article. Well I want to make it so that I can connect to the server with ssh as if it was in my local network, which it technically is, but isnt at the same time. What can I do, I beg you and thank you, cause I’ve been hackin at this for houurs and hours.
Please any help I’m desperate
The nodded router acts as a switch but will also allow you connect to it through wireless. Check what your network is on at the server and on the upstairs computer. Also are you getting internet service on the basement computers.
I have a wrt610n router as the forward, behind a FIOS router. Can you run VPN? I’m using mega build 15943.