Joined: 10 May 2022 Posts: 144 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2026 22:27 Post subject: [Sloved]Is this normal?
I have my new X86_64 system up and running for a week. It is based on a MSI PRO B550-VC WIFI motherboard with AMD Ryzen 5 3600GT CPU, a 4port 2.5Gb Ethernet Card and activated with full VGA license.
Today, I added a new 2ports 2.5Gb Ethernet card. When DD-WRT started back up with both network cards, I lost internet connection. After some trouble shooting, I realized "eth0" is now assigned to the new 2port 2.5Gb NIC instead of the 4port 2.5Gb NIC. Is this normal? Why DD-WRT change eth0 assignment when more ethernet ports are added to the system?
Last edited by broca on Thu Apr 16, 2026 15:44; edited 1 time in total
Once you set the option it will remember it. I just know the WAN connection is disabled by default and it's mode like Static and DHCP. It is so you can choose which port on your NIC is going to WAN I guess. Then adding NIC's later it will rearrange the port assignments but that only happens if your adding NIC which messes with the stored configuration. It's just how it's been since the beginning.
Joined: 10 May 2022 Posts: 144 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2026 23:56 Post subject:
@flood404, are you using the full or public version?
With the full version, the license is linked to the system's mac address - persumably eth0 (WAN) interface. I remember if I try to change which port to be the WAN interface, DD-WRT will ask activation again which will fail. My system still functioning as expected once I moved my ISP cable to the right port.
At this point, I am not worry about it unless something else pops up like I need to perfrom license activation again.
Yes I am using the full paid version. I keep the onboard NIC enabled since the keys are tied to the mac addresses. The onboard is assigned to LAN while a faster 2.5Gbps 6 port card is used instead and one of the ports is assigned to WAN the rest are LAN. I think its when the cards are removed shuffled around or new ones installed will trigger an activation.
Joined: 10 May 2022 Posts: 144 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2026 19:38 Post subject:
That was my intention as well, but somehow DD-WRT choose to link the license to my NIC. It is too late since I already activated the license. I will have to buy another license when I upgrade either the MoBo or the NIC. What do you do at first boot to ensure the license will link to the motherboard MAC or the NIC's MAC?
If you do a fresh install with the new card, it will set the board ethernet port back to eth 0. You will need to reactivate the software. _________________ Custom computer w/ i7-13700T, 16GB DDR5 Ram, X710-T4L, i226 four port, two RLTK 8127 cards & dual AQC113 M2 slot card. Currently running OpenWRT and Adguard.
2 GL.iNET GL-BE9300 Flint 3 with (GLiNet Custom OpenWRT) as AP's (WIFI 7 for the whole home now)
GL.iNET GL-MT6000 Flint 2 with pure OpenWRT not in use
GL INET GL-BE3600 Slate 7 Travel Router as a travel router
2 R7800's (DDWRT Build r60586) Not in use
3 R7000's (DDWRT build r65574) one used as a bridge
WRT54G-TM not in use
Joined: 10 May 2022 Posts: 144 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 16:53 Post subject:
Then it will link to the NIC's MAC, not the motherboard. That was my experience.
Can you activate with no NICs? It didn't make sense to me and that is why I never try it.
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 17296 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 17:11 Post subject:
Your motherboard has an onboard Ethernet port (NIC). This port should be enabled, and you should probably try fresh install with it enabled and without expansion cards first.
Joined: 10 May 2022 Posts: 144 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 17:38 Post subject:
I guess this is the license activation issue, not networking issue, even my mind keep refusing to accept the concept of having no expansion NIC but one single integrated motherboard ethernet port (how do you route with just one port?).
Joined: 10 May 2022 Posts: 144 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 18:17 Post subject:
I guess it does make sense. When I added the second NIC, eth0 moved to the new NIC, but DD-WRT stayed activated even it is linked to the first NIC's MAC.
Thank you for all the coaching. Now I just have to remember what to do next time around.
Wait, wait, how do I connect to the system so I can activate using Web UI?
Is there a way to do the activation thru console?
Joined: 10 May 2022 Posts: 144 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2026 19:09 Post subject:
unfortunately, DD-WRT tried to load the WiFi driver but failed to initialized. Yup, that is another thing I have to tackle but it is not a must have. Come to think of it, I might just switch to the public version next time and forgot about the license.
Sorry I took up so much bandwidth here.
