Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 10:08 Post subject: first DD-WRT installation on linksys WRT3200ACM
Hi guys, I'm new to this forum. I just bought a second-hand Linksys WRT3200ACM to connect it in cascade to the Fastweb Nexxt and be able to install a VPN.
I currently have the stock firmware 1.0.8.199531 installed
I had problems putting it in cascade with the Fastweb nexxt as it didn't connect to the internet and I couldn't access the Linksys interface because there was an IP conflict.
The Fastweb Nexxt has an IP of 192.168.1.254 and the LInksys 192.168.1.1 and it wouldn't let me. I helped myself with Gemini to solve the problem. I connected the LInksys directly to the PC via the LAN port and in the end I managed to log in by typing myrouter.local on the browser. So I changed the Linksys IP to 192.168.2.1 so it connected to the internet.
But reading the guide in this topic https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=311117 to install DD-WRT at the beginning of the topic it says and I quote "First and most important: never do a ‘Hard Reset’ aka 30/30/30!. It's unnecessary and you can harm your router.
*The 'Hard Reset' applies only to much older routers. If the router you are installing or upgrading DD-WRT on is a WRT1200, WRT1900, WRT3200 or a WRT32X a simple hold of the reset button (located on the back of the router) for 20 seconds while router is powered ON will clear NVRAM and restore router to defaults.
*A 'normal reset' is not always necessary unless there is a problem, but some do it as a preventative measure before and/or after installing or upgrading." if I follow the procedure it says that I should first do a reset by holding down the reset button for 20 seconds and then it restarts. But my doubt is that if I do a reset the router returns to having the IP 192.168.1.1 and it conflicts with the Fastweb Nexxt.
I downloaded the firmware by searching the router database for the Linksys WRT3200ACM. It says supported and by entering the page I downloaded the factory-to-ddwrt.bin file from there. The date is 2020-11-03. Is this the latest file?
I'm making an upgrade to my problem, I'm reading the Wiki of my Linksys and also the same post, I understood well that for the first time you need to install the version 01-07-2018-r34411 and then possibly update to the latest version factory-to-ddwrt latest linksys-wrt3200acm 01-Dec-2025 0928. So I shouldn't absolutely consider the one I downloaded from the database?
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 16746 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2025 11:11 Post subject:
Gemini doesn't know the nuances about DD-WRT or about this forum and what you should read. Obviously, it missed the part where you skip using the router database. Read all of the links in the following:
I thank you for the support, yes I know that you shouldn't rely totally on Gemini, in fact I'm here on the forum hoping to receive support. However, I only got help trying to enter the LInksys gui which I couldn't due to the IP conflict.
Now for the installation of DD-WRT I am here to read and understand. Yes, I saw this link you gave me and I was reading.
Also the wiki and all the links recommended in the guides.
However, I still have the doubt about the IP conflict, because if I do a 20-second reset I think I'll have the IP 192.168.1.1 again and I'll have the conflict again. Right?
I don't want to make a mistake in the procedure and screw everything up.
Anyway, I'll finish reading everything and ask you if I have any other doubts.
I read from theard that the latest build is 12/01/2025 - r62890
Thanks
good morning, I have read all the wiki pages of my Linksys WRT 3200 ACM Router, standard gui installation wiki, Marwell forum page, Cliff's notes, Peacock Thread-FAQ, Access To Modem Configuration, Modem - Connection to Router, let's say we have understood almost everything, but before approaching the first flashing I would like to clarify some small doubts, if you could please clear them up for me, thanks.
On the Linksys WRT1900AC Wiki page in the introduction there are 3 notes:
Note 1 Initial flash should be an early 2018 release, e.g. 01-07-2018-r34411 question is this build the first build where support started? should I put this build first? or can I put the latest build directly?
Note 2 A webupgrade to a known good current release is required after initial flash. In the next note it says to then update to the current build.
Note 3 says to check the Marwell Forum
In the Cliff Notes there is a note that says "Initial flash should be done with 01-07-2018-r34411 due to Linksys OEM partition size restrictions."
My WRT 3200ACM has the official firmware version 1.0.8.199531
I downloaded the firmware from theard build 12/01/2025 - r62890 even though there is already a new build on 12/04/2025 - r62924 but since no one has done any tests on this latest build I would prefer to install the r62890 because I saw that someone has the same router as me and everything is ok I hope.
So from the download page I downloaded the factory-to-ddwrt.bin section of my router
Then I should continue in this way
1 connect only PC and WRT3200ACM via ethernet PC Lan port and router LAN port, disconnecting wifi and antivirus.
2 reset the WRT3200ACM for 20 seconds upon restart I enter the interface I go to Connectivity - manual I load the bin file and wait for the restart and for it to tell me that everything went ok, it should ask me for user and password I enter root and admin I enter, then I reset again for 20 seconds and wait for it to connect and I can log in the IP should be the default 192.168.1.1.
That should be it right?
Regarding the connection between Fastweb Nexxt modem and WRT3200ACM, I also read the pages Access To Modem Configuration and Modem - Connection to Router
I tried removing DHCP from the Fastweb Nexxt modem and leaving it on Linksys and the linksys router wouldn't connect to the internet.
I did a factory reset of the Nexxt and the Linksys and basically the Nexxt went with factory data with DHCP enabled and DMZ disabled its IP 192.168.1.254 the Linksys connected to the modem took the IP 192.168.1.50. Then I connected to the Linksys interface, did the initial configuration procedure and connected to the internet and saw that in Troubleshooting - Diagnostics the internet IP is 192.168.1.50 while in Connectivity - Local Network it takes the IP 10.47.143.240
Do I leave it this way? Do they both have DHCP enabled though?
If I use DHCP from Nexxt it doesn't connect to Linksys.
Now since I have already done a factory reset on the Linksys, can I proceed with uploading the firmware?
I await your clarifications to proceed. Thank you for your patience
I flashed the DD-WRT v3.0 build 12-01-2025-r62890. Problems
Now after rebooting, it says "Unidentified network." Where did I go wrong? Everything seemed fine.
I followed these steps, connected the Linksys modem to the LAN-to-LAN network, and did a factory reset. I waited for it to reboot, entered the manual interface, went to Connectivity, Manual, choose file, and uploaded the file. I booted it up. The Linksys rebooted. I logged in with 192.168.1.1 from the browser and it asked me to enter the username and password. I used the default root and admin.
Once logged in, I looked at the first page of the initial information and saw that the build r62890 was written in the top right. I waited a bit, looked at a few other menus without changing anything, then saw that the administration menu had factory settings, so I did that to reset it again. I waited for it to reboot, and it asked me to reset my username and password again. I did as before and entered the interface. This time, I changed the default settings suggested by the Cliff Notes. I changed the language to Italian, enabled and set the wireless card, and saved it. Then, I connected the Fastweb Nexxt Lan modem to the Linksys' WAN port, and it wouldn't connect to the internet. First problems. I thought about restarting, so I turned off both the Nexxt and the Linksys for 10 minutes or more. Then, first, I turned on the modem, which had been connected, entered the interface, and saw that its IP was 192.168.1.254 and only the PC was connected to the network. Then I turned on the Linksys and connected it to the modem. After waiting a bit, it didn't see it on the network.
I thought it was an IP conflict again since the Linksys has 192.168.1.1 and I only connected to the PC and Linksys to access the interface, but this time I couldn't log in. It says unidentified network. It doesn't see anything whether I connect to the LAN or WAN. I cleared the browser cache and changed browsers, both Firefox and Chrome.
Help please.
Do I have to switch partitions using the three-time power cycle method? So I can switch to the other partition and repeat? I hope I haven't bricked it. So I can repeat the process? But first I'd like to understand where I went wrong.
Thanks
First of all, thanks for the help. Okay, I first disabled Ethernet, and when I re-enabled it, it gave me an unidentified network again. Then I set it to static, and it recognized the Linksys, so I accessed the dd-wrt interface. I forgot to tell you I have Windows 11. But what do I do now? Currently, for these tests, I've just connected the PC's LAN to the Linksys' LAN.
I continued trying to set up the two modems as best as possible. Currently, I'm stuck.
To access the Linksys interface, I can only do so if I set my PC to a static IP. I had to change the IP of the Nexxt Fastweb modem from 192.168.1.254 to 192.168.2.254 because it wouldn't recognize the Linksys when connected via Ethernet. Should I change the IP of the Linksys WRT from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.2.1? After changing this IP, it was recognized with the IP 192.168.1.51 and this is the WAN IP I see in the top right of the WRT.
After doing this and connecting the two, I see that the Linksys says it's connected to the internet, but it's actually not connected, and I can't really browse. There must be some setting I need to adjust that I don't know about.
I made some changes, resetting the IP address of the Fastweb Nexxt modem and changing the Linksys one to 192.168.2.1. I disabled DHCP on the Linksys. They connect, but I have no internet, and my smartphone won't connect to the Linksys via Wi-Fi. It stops at IP address acquisition.
Screenshot 2025-12-08 at 17-39-08 DD-WRT (build 62890) - Informazioni.png
I think I did it. I kept the Nexxt Fastweb modem with its default IP of 192.168.1.254. I followed what's written on the page https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_access_point in simple mode by disabling DHCP on the Linksys and setting the IP to 192.168.1.2. Then I connected to the modem via the Nexxt LAN port and the Linksys LAN port. I removed the static IP on the PC and can access the WRT interface. The Linksys is connected to the internet, and the smartphone connects to the internet via the Linksys's WiFi.
I think I did it.
Thanks anyway. I think I did it by reading your guides, which I hadn't realized were there.
Now I'll proceed to set up the VPN.
I can't set up Surfshark VPN. I follow their video tutorials, although there are some small differences between the current DD-WRT and the one shown in their video. But it doesn't connect to the VPN.
I've tried both WireGuard and OpenVPN.
I can't find any guides or anything similar. Any help? Thanks.
I'm noticing a strange situation. The Fastweb Nexxt modem and Linksys are always connected via LAN with an Ethernet cable. If I also connect the PC to the Linksys via LAN with another Ethernet cable, the PC is connected to the internet, but in the bottom right near the clock, it says Fastweb Nexxt internet access. If I connect the PC to the Fastweb Nexxt modem via LAN, it says connected to Linksys but not connected to the internet. Is this normal?
I also noticed that in the DD-WRT interface, in the Status - Router Current Time section, it says Tue, 01 Jan 2030 03:47:15, incorrectly.
