66 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
66 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
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title = 'DD-WRT as a Wireless Client Bridge'
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date = 2024-09-16T18:55:11+03:00
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draft = false
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If you live in a house where extending a simple networking cable would require a lot of work, you might find yourself buying something like a network printer and not being able to connect it to the network due to it not supporting wifi. These situations suck, but thankfully, there's a solution, the Wireless Client Bridge.
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## Okay, what the hell is that?
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A Wireless Client Bridge is a device that helps your computer/laptop/smart fridge connect to the internet when a direct wired connection to your main router wouldn't be possible.
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### Pros:
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* No need to spend ages googling your wifi drivers
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* Better connections, as most commercial routers have better antennas than most commercial computers.
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### Cons:
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* It's another appliance that you need to maintain and power.
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Here's a handy diagram of what we'll be doing today:
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## 1. Setting up DD-WRT
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It should be obvious that you must install DD-WRT on a compatible router. I decided for this setup to go with the old but reliable TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND. But you may be asking yourself, why use DD-WRT? Well, DD-WRT is simpler than alternatives like OpenWRT. That's it.
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## 2. Initial setup
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After flashing DD-WRT, you should go to the setup tab, and fill in the following:
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* **Connection Type**: Disabled
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* **Router Name**: Can be changed to anything
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* **Local IP Address**: You need to select an IP address that is not already in use on your network. For example, I chose 192.168.1.2. If your network uses a different address range, such as 192.168.0.x or 10.10.1.x, you'll need to pick an IP from that range, like 192.168.0.2 or 10.10.1.2.
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* **Gateway**: You must input the IP of your main router
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* **Assign WAN Port to Switch**: Enable
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* **DHCP Server**: Disable
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Your settings should look something like this
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## 3. Disabling the firewall
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This can be done via Security > Firewall
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* **SPI Firewall**: Disable
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Now you may be thinking why you'd disable the firewall. Well, that is handled by your main router.
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## 4. Connecting to the wireless network:
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Go to Wireless > Basic Settings and fill in the following:
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* **Wireless Mode**: Client Bridge (Routed)
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* **Default GW Mode**: Manual
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* **Gateway**: The IP of your main router. Mine's 192.168.1.1
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* **Wireless Network Mode**: Mixed
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* **Wireless Network Name (SSID)**: Your SSID. I redacted mine.
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Now go to the Wireless Security tab and chose the following (these are the most common settings found on most routers):
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* **Security Mode**: WPA
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* **Network Authentication**: WPA2 Personal
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* **WPA Shared Key**: your password
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Now you can check if you configured the wireless stuff correctly by going to the Status > Wireless tab and reviewing the stuff there.
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## 5. Profit
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Now you can finally apply all the changes. You'll have to change to 192.168.1.2 or whatever IP you chose in step 1 for the router.
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I am still a DD-WRT novice, so if I missed anything, or something doesn't work properly, please let me know.
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