Posted: Sun May 01, 2022 2:05 Post subject: Use a different SSID in repeater bridge mode?
I want to use repeater bridge mode to provide internet access to a small test network without having to run an ethernet cable to the primary AP.
However, the router I have chosen is an older one I'm simply repurposing, the primary AP greatly outclasses it. I don't want any traffic besides my test network traffic to go through the radio. (with one exception)
So it seems like I could simply use client bridged mode, but one very small issue: I would like to administer dd-wrt wirelessly.
Thus, I have a use case for repeater bridge mode, but with a different SSID for the secondary. Is this possible?
"Wireless Network Name SSID: Must Match Primary Router EXACTLY including case"
I don't want that...basically what I'm trying to achieve is a 4 port switch that is wirelessly connected to a base AP, *and* provides an SSID that is *only* used for configuring dd-wrt, no other network traffic should pass through the radio, I don't want random network devices to connect to it that would have connected directly to the base.
So how do I tell dd-wrt "I want to use this device as a repeater bridge, but I don't want you to rebroadcast the SSID of the base station, instead, broadcast this new SSID" (that will basically only be used for admin access or various tests)
It would be nice to get to that point eventually, but for now I would be content with getting just client bridge working. (and for now I can admin from the primary router side)
"Set Gateway mode to manual and enter primary router's IP address."
I do not see a place to set the "Gateway Mode", beside I suppose "Operating Mode" (which is currently set to "router").
But even if I set "Operating Mode" to "Gateway", I do not see a place to enter the primary router's IP address.
As of right now, my dd-wrt device is able to connect to the base AP with no problems, and I can access the dd-wrt web interface and ssh server from the base side with no issues, but it looks like dhcp isn't propagating from my router to the lan ports on the dd-wrt device.
Gateway mode enables NAT over the WAN, while Router mode disabled NAT over the WAN. But in any bridged configuration, there is no WAN, so how the Operating Mode is set is utterly irrelevant!
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14125 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2022 4:32 Post subject:
Given your expertise and the weight of your words, @eibgrad, I will walk through these modes that reference that change in operating mode and verify no ill effects and make the necessary edits. Not sure if that notion had to do with the fullswitch function that was removed (Assign WAN port to switch) or what, to be quite honest. That may also be something relevant to the whole "Filter Multicast" setting anomalies in more current releases as well.
@kerryhall: Which version of the WNDR4500 do you have? V1/V2 are Broadcom, V3 is Atheros. I still have to flash up to current releases with the Station / Station Bridge mode name changes, etc. to step through other edits. If you aren't on the current release (49418), you should be. _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
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Linux User #377467 counter.li.org / linuxcounter.net
Joined: 18 Mar 2014 Posts: 12834 Location: Netherlands
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2022 8:09 Post subject:
For now assuming it is a v1 or v2 so Broadcom and I will transfer this thread to the appropriate forum
See the forum guidelines with helpful pointers about how to research your router, where and what firmware to download, where and how to post and many other helpful tips:
https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=324087
Attached my notes how I do it (not saying it is the only or the best way)
note I do not touch Operating Mode, I just leave it in its default Gateway mode
Thank you. I upgraded to this latest version and disabled SFE (as described in the wiki) but still having issues with dhcp making it through the dd-wrt device.
I tried connecting a laptop to the base ap via wifi, and I see this in the network manager logs:
Code:
dhcp4: state changed unknown -> bound
So I know for a fact that dhcp is working through the base ap with no problems.
I then tried that same laptop on one of the lan ports of the dd-wrt device. Trying to use dhcp, it just times out. If I set a static IP for the laptop, it works immediately.
I also tried a second client, again connecting to one of the lan ports of the dd-wrt device, this time using dhclient. dhclient times out with "no dhcpoffers received."
So I think something about the dd-wrt device is preventing dhcp from working, but I'm not sure what it is.
I want it on the same subnet as the base AP. The router runs the dhcp server, which works great through the base AP, but sadly doesn't seem to work through the dd-wrt device.
Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 3763 Location: I'm the one on the plate.
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2022 7:00 Post subject:
Did you consider using an additional radio in AP mode instead of trying to make one radio do everything you want ?
You can put one radio in client bridge mode to the main AP and then wire another access point radio to it LAN to LAN. It will then be a single layer network and pass DHCP. Will also deliver full bandwidth instead of the 50% that the repeater bridge delivers.
You can still find the Asus RT-N12 for around $35 _________________ http://69.175.13.131:8015 Streaming Week-End Disco. Station Ripper V 1.1 will do.