[SOLVED]DD-WRT on Netgear R7800

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martinmarty2
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Joined: 01 Feb 2021
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 12:14    Post subject: [SOLVED]DD-WRT on Netgear R7800 Reply with quote
I want to put DD-WRT on a Netgear R7800 router. I am following the Netgear R7800 and XR500 Install Guide found here https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=320614 and the PDF install guide by ecg that says last modified 17 July 2022.

I have a few questions:

1 - Near the beginning of the thread, it links to file R7800-factory-to-ddwrt-40270.img for the initial flash of DD-WRT. I notice that each of the firmware directories such as /dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2022/07-14-2022-r49492/netgear-r7800/ has its own version of factory-to-ddwrt. Should I be using the img file whose version corresponds to the bin file I intend to use (49492), or the 40270 file linked in the thread?

2 - Am I getting the bin file from the right place? I was planning to use dd-wrt-webupgrade.bin from /dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2022/07-14-2022-r49492/netgear-r7800/
I am not sure if this is the right place because it says "betas". The reason I picked version 49492 is because it is the newest one mentioned in the PDF install guide as "Builds I personally tested working for longer period".

In selecting the version to install, the most important thing for this install is stability. The router doesn't have to do anything fancy except sit in the backroom of a bar and provide wifi to people on their cell phones and the occasional laptop or two. The reason for DD-WRT is because it is replacing an older DD-WRT router (WNR3500L) that forces a DNS override via iptables commands as shown in https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=149796 so I need to be able to do that on the new router, too. If there is a more "trusted" version that would be preferable, please advise.

3 - Assuming I was referring to the correct file in the previous question, is it OK to rename dd-wrt-webupgrade.bin to have a designation of the version (just so I don't lose track) or does it need to be named exactly that for the installation process to work?

THANK YOU
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Alozaros
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 16 Nov 2015
Posts: 6411
Location: UK, London, just across the river..

PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 12:23    Post subject: Reply with quote
yep follow the guide..
-stock Netgear settings reset to default
-reboot
-from Netgear GUI update to https://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/betas/2022/08-03-2022-r49626/netgear-r7800/factory-to-ddwrt.img
-reboot

-than any other updates you do...use only
dd-wrt-webupgrade.bin file from DDWRT GUI...or CLI update..
important bit is, to reset after the update and manually rebuild settings...do not use save files from a different firmware builds...

Im currently on 49626..R7800 is ok and it has important updates, next firmware is coming soon too..
R7800 is excellent choice for coffee/pub ..
just follow the Atheros WiFi guide https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=324014

for coffee i set DHCP clients/lease time to 30 min or 1h it depends how busy is it...
i also have Stubby (via Entware) for DNS over TLS for a bit more DNS security..or you can just use SmartDNS option in DDWRT and encrypt it there.. https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=323896&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=135

_________________
Atheros
TP-Link WR740Nv1 ---DD-WRT 55179 WAP
TP-Link WR1043NDv2 -DD-WRT 55303 Gateway/DoT,Forced DNS,Ad-Block,Firewall,x4VLAN,VPN
TP-Link WR1043NDv2 -Gargoyle OS 1.15.x AP,DNS,QoS,Quotas
Qualcomm-Atheros
Netgear XR500 --DD-WRT 55460 Gateway/DoH,Forced DNS,AP Isolation,4VLAN,Ad-Block,Firewall,Vanilla
Netgear R7800 --DD-WRT 55460 Gateway/DoT,AD-Block,Forced DNS,AP&Net Isolation,x3VLAN,Firewall,Vanilla
Netgear R9000 --DD-WRT 55363 Gateway/DoT,AD-Block,AP Isolation,Firewall,Forced DNS,x2VLAN,Vanilla
Broadcom
Netgear R7000 --DD-WRT 55460 Gateway/SmartDNS/DoH,AD-Block,Firewall,Forced DNS,x3VLAN,VPN
NOT USING 5Ghz ANYWHERE
------------------------------------------------------
Stubby DNS over TLS I DNSCrypt v2 by mac913


Last edited by Alozaros on Fri Aug 05, 2022 12:36; edited 1 time in total
martinmarty2
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Joined: 01 Feb 2021
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 12:31    Post subject: Reply with quote
Wow, that was fast! Thanks, Alozaros! I will try the 49626 version.
dale_gribble39
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 11 Jun 2022
Posts: 1900

PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 12:59    Post subject: Re: DD-WRT on Netgear R7800 Reply with quote
martinmarty2 wrote:
I have a few questions:
-snip-
3 - Assuming I was referring to the correct file in the previous question, is it OK to rename dd-wrt-webupgrade.bin to have a designation of the version (just so I don't lose track) or does it need to be named exactly that for the installation process to work?

I tend to "save link as" and insert the rXXXXX, i.e. factory-to-ddwrt-r49626.bin (.chk, .img, etc.) or webupgrade-r49626.bin; it has no bearing on whether or not the webUI from stock firmware or DD-WRT will accept the file.

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martinmarty2
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 01 Feb 2021
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 13:04    Post subject: Re: DD-WRT on Netgear R7800 Reply with quote
dale_gribble39 wrote:

I tend to "save link as" and insert the rXXXXX, i.e. factory-to-ddwrt-r49626.bin (.chk, .img, etc.) or webupgrade-r49626.bin; it has no bearing on whether or not the webUI from stock firmware or DD-WRT will accept the file.


Yes, I thought I recalled that we get to specify the file name. Thanks.
the-joker
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Joined: 31 Jul 2021
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Location: All over YOUR webs

PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 14:56    Post subject: Reply with quote
You can name it whatever you like, and the file extension doesn't even matter, even none will work. It does at least for CLI upgrades, but should be no different since the file headers is what matters.
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martinmarty2
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 01 Feb 2021
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 15:42    Post subject: Reply with quote
the-joker wrote:
You can name it whatever you like, and the file extension doesn't even matter, even none will work. It does at least for CLI upgrades, but should be no different since the file headers is what matters.

Thank you, Joker.
martinmarty2
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 01 Feb 2021
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 17:54    Post subject: Reply with quote
Very Happy
I am up and running on r49626.

Thanks everybody for your timely replies.

Next I work on my config. I will set the wifi parameters as Alozaros recommended: Atheros WiFi guide https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=324014

It's been years since I set up the old router. Those iptables commands I was talking about go in
Administration/Commands/(enter cmds in the text box)/Click Save Firewall
right?

THANKS again!
ho1Aetoo
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 19 Feb 2019
Posts: 2927
Location: Germany

PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 18:02    Post subject: Reply with quote
There is also a checkbox for this in the "basic setup" tab.

The rules from the link in post 1 are not well thought out.
They reroute all Port 53 packages, even those that are already on the right path.
egc
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 18 Mar 2014
Posts: 12839
Location: Netherlands

PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 18:08    Post subject: Reply with quote
Those settings regarding DNS are no longer necessary.

Use the GUI as @ho1Aetoo already pointed out, on Basic SEtup page : Forced DNS redirection.

About DNS server that was necessary in the past as the ISP's DNS was automatically added, nowadays on the same Setup page check "Ignore WAN DNS" and just use your preferred DNS servers in Static DNS 1 and 2

Or better use SmartDNS and and use DoT and/or DoH

_________________
Routers:Netgear R7000, R6400v1, R6400v2, EA6900 (XvortexCFE), E2000, E1200v1, WRT54GS v1.
Install guide R6400v2, R6700v3,XR300:https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=316399
Install guide R7800/XR500: https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=320614
Forum Guide Lines (important read):https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=324087
martinmarty2
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 01 Feb 2021
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 18:13    Post subject: Reply with quote
Sounds great, and easier than what I was doing before. Thanks again.
steveindajeep
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Joined: 29 Oct 2016
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Sun Aug 21, 2022 22:45    Post subject: Reply with quote
How did you installation go? Any issues? Everything working good? Ive been out of the ddwrt world for awhile and have a 7800 i plan on putting version 49792 on it for home use.

Ill be going through the Atheros wifi guide, thats the only thing i know of that needs to be looked at as far as i know.
martinmarty2
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 01 Feb 2021
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2022 0:41    Post subject: Reply with quote
The installation went great, no surprises, using r49626. I don't have the router installed in its real home yet so I can't report on actual results. The testing I have done so far is extremely limited, basic LAN & wifi connections seem to work fine and it has been up about two weeks and I just connected again without problem, but it has not been moving any data, just sitting there idle. I still haven't got my configs all ready. Was just going to post a question about that. Good luck with yours.
steveindajeep
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 29 Oct 2016
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2022 2:15    Post subject: Reply with quote
Cool. Ive been running an r7000 since 2016 with a kong build on it with no issues what so ever. Got a 7800 for next to nothing and figured it was time to update/upgrade. Hoping the newer firmwares are just as solid.
martinmarty2
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 01 Feb 2021
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Mon Aug 22, 2022 22:33    Post subject: Reply with quote
Mine was WNR3500Lv2 with a kong build since about 2011. Hoping to get a little stronger wifi signals just by virtue of the multiple external antennas. It's in the back room of a pub.

At home I have an R7500 that I bought when it was new, like $400. I might try DD-WRT on it if I get the urge to break stuff that ain't broke.
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