If you are in this post, it is because you need to know how to configure your with DD-WRT, and it is not to lengthen, but you are in the best place to learn how to do it. Before, we will explain a little about this awesome firmware.
Firstly we feel the need to warn you that you should work with this delicately, because you are going to modify the router configurationand if you do not perfectly follow the steps that we leave you here, you can definitely damage the device.
But if your configuration is correct, it will have new features that you can enjoy with your router, since most focuses on improving the connection of your.
What is DD-WRT and what are its main features?
DD-WRT is a firmware that allows us to improve the characteristics of our router, although it must be very clear that this can only be done on some Wi-Fi devices, because not all have compatibility enough due to its manufacturer, and by forcing its installation the router can be completely damaged.
This kind of software allows us to expand in many ways (network stability, connection information, complete monitoring…) the possibilities of our router. It is based on free software Linux/GNUso we understand that it is free and ofallowing us to modify them and overwrite the codes if we wish.
What is the use of configuring a DD-WRT router as a switch and access point?
This fabulous but delicate software gives us different features that will improve our experience.
The most important are the following:
You can create Access Points
Thanks to it allows us to create new access points we will not need to give the key of our network to everyone if we want them to connect, since they can do it from the new point created with DD-WRTwhich is more than just a guest network. This is a kind of point that allows access to the networking style that smartphones offer.
Blocking websites by words
As we know, the majority are quite precarious with blocking pages, while those that are compatible with DD-WRT allow the blocking of not only more than one url but also words can be bannedso that when entering those words in the search engine from our network does not allow access or end the search.
Support DDNS
The Routers with this firmware allow the modification and creation of . When we speak in the plural it is because, unlike those that are not compatible, it is that we can make them with up to 8 addresses. Although the only thing that can be a bit tedious for us is that we must set it manuallybut it’s not very difficult.
Always keep your connection to the maximum
If we have used Routers without this software we will know that mostly the connections are very unstable, because for anything they fall, situation that we do not like at all. But with this open source program we eliminated this small but annoying problem.
With this software we can create an option called “Watchdog” that accesses a web page periodically, so that if the connection is not good, because it takes time to load, or simply the page does not recognize the IP, the apparatus restarts automaticallyuntil the connection is 100%.
Steps to configure a router with DD-WRT to use it as a switch and access point
In order to configure our router with this fabulous firmware you need to follow a series of steps, and be very careful with this, because if you miss any step or you do not comply with them to the letter, you can completely end the life of the device.
So read carefully what follows:
In the Setup tab: Basic Setup
First we must enter the configuration of our Router and for this we must enter the URL search engine of our browser with the IP of the main network, or with the link indicated by the same device, in our case it is 192.168.1.200. Then we must enter to “WAN Connection Type” and click on the “Disabled” option. Now we look for our IPand from there the Subnet mask. In our case is 255.255.0, and select “DHCP Server”where we click on disabled.
Also we will have to deactivate all the options related to DNSmasq. We enter “Assign WAN Port to Switch”, and check the box to allow us to use the port as another port . We click on Gateway and to the main IP which is mostly 192.168.1.1. then we’re going to “LocalDNS”and we select “Disable NTP Client”. Since everything is in English we must click on “Save” to save the changes, but we have not finished, we still need to configure.
In the Setup tab: Advanced Routing
In this step we enter the “Change Operating mode to”and from the drop-down list that is located next to it, we select Router. Whenever we make a change we must click on “Save” to be able to save it and thus continue.
In the Wireless tab: Basic Settings
Already at this point we change the tab to Wirelessand we look for the option of “Basic Settings”. At this point we can configure our Wi-Fi network, from something simple such as changing the 2.4GHz to 5GHz frequency.
We enter “SSID”, to configure the repeater of the Router (repeater from the secondary to the main one), and then to the section of “Security”. we seek “” with a cipher AES, which should be the same as the main network. When it asks us to put the password, we write the same as that of the main network, and for the channel we choose one that is less saturated. we should always save the changes to continue.
On the Services tab: Services
Now we go to the “services”, and we look for “DNSMasq” and deactivate (“disabled”)we do the same in “ttraff”. In order to continue we must save (“Save”).
In the Security tab: Firewall
Here we deactivated the firewallbecause the main router is the one who will manage all the security.
On the Administration tab: Management
We look for the Administration tab and in turn “Management”, here we can make changes to the following functions:
- Info Site Password Protection -> Enable
- Info Site MAC Masking -> Disable
- Cron -> Disable
- Routing -> Disable
By making these changes, we finished with the configuration, and we save. Then we click on “Apply Settings”, and in this way the changes are applied, so that the router loads all the new configuration. From this moment our router starts working with a Wi-Fi access point next to a 5-port (4 LAN + WAN).
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