Repeater Bridge

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#*Network Configuration : Bridged #*Network Configuration : Bridged
#*'''Save Settings''' #*'''Save Settings'''
-#Open the '''Status -> Wireless''' tab+#Open the '''Status -> Wireless''' tab [redhawk - This step is '''NOT''' necessary]
#*Wiviz Survey (or Site Survey) #*Wiviz Survey (or Site Survey)
#*Join Primary Router #*Join Primary Router

Revision as of 23:12, 27 October 2007

Wireless Bridging is used to connect two LAN segments via a wireless link. The two segments will be in the same subnet and look like two Ethernet switches connected by a cable to all computers on the subnet. Since the computers are on the same subnet, broadcasts will reach all machines, allowing DHCP clients in one segment to get their addresses from a DHCP server in a different segment. You could use a Wireless Bridge to transparently connect computer(s) in one room to computer(s) in a different room when you could not, or did not want to run an Ethernet cable between the rooms.

The limitation with standard Bridging is that it only allows wired clients to connect to the secondary router. New in v24 is Repeater Bridge mode which allows extension of the LAN via the secondary router and but also allows wireless clients to connect to the secondary router. This is a perfect way to extend the wireless range of your existing network while still allowing wired clients to connect to the secondary router.

Reference Image
Reference Image


In the case in which we are interested, a secondary router running DD-WRT v24 is configured as a Repeater Bridge between a Primary wireless router (of any make/brand/FW) allowing the above configuration.

Assumptions:

Primary router is configured in a 192.168.1.X subnet and leases DHCP address in the same pool. Secondary router is running DD-WRT v24

No security setup will be covered in this Wiki. It will be up to the user to setup security between the Primary and Secondary routers

Contents

Instructions

A very simple step-by-step description to connect a Router running DD-WRTV24 in Repeater Bridge Mode:

To enable Bridge-Mode between two Routers, the Primary router has to be in AP mode. The Secondary router running DD-WRT v24 as Repeater Bridged

  1. Restore Factory Defaults on Secondary(DD-WRT) Router
  2. Connect to the secondary router via wired or wireless client keeping in mind the dd-wrt default settings for dhcp pool and ssid
  3. Open the Setup -> Basic Setup tab
    • Connection Type : Disabled
    • IP Address : 192.168.1.2 (Assuming Primary Router IP is 192.168.1.1)
    • Mask : 255.255.255.0
    • Gateway: 192.168.1.1 (again assuming Primary Router IP is 192.168.1.1)
    • Assign WAN Port to Switch : Checked
    • Save Settings
  4. Open the Security -> Firewall tab
    • Uncheck all boxes
    • Disable SP1 firewall
    • Save Settings
  5. Open the Wireless -> Basic Settings tab
    • Wireless Mode : Repeater Bridge
    • Wireless Network Mode : Match Primary Router
    • Wireless Network Name(SSID) : Match Primary Router
    • Wireless Channel : Match Primary Router
    • Wireless SSID Broadcast : Enable
    • Network Configuration : Bridged
  6. Virtual Interfaces Section
    • Add
    • Wireless Network Name(SSID) : Different from Primary Router
    • Wireless SSID Broadcast : Enable
    • AP Isolation : Disable
    • Network Configuration : Bridged
    • Save Settings
  7. Open the Status -> Wireless tab [redhawk - This step is NOT necessary]
    • Wiviz Survey (or Site Survey)
    • Join Primary Router
    • Continue
  8. Open the Administration tab
    • APPLY Settings (In V24 after 07/04/07...use Save for previous versions)


You should now be able to connect wired clients and wireless clients to the newly configured Secondary router. They will receive IP Addresses from the Primary Router and will be able to use the Internet connection supplied by the Primary Router.

[Plaut: Under "Wireless -> Basic Settings", I found I had to use the primary router's SSID for the physical interface and a new SSID for the virtual interface]

[EDIT-Redhawk] - I altered the instructions above....Under "Wireless>>Basic Setings", the Physical SSID must match the Primary Router SSID name as indicated by Plaut and the Virtual SSID (added) needs to be different. Also added was the last step to apply the changes.

Security

Keep in mind any security settings will need to be configured including MAC filtering in order for the Secondary Router to connect to the Primary Router and also for clients connecting to the Secondary Router to gain full access to the connectivity of the Primary Router. There are some factors to consider when setting up Security for Client Bridge mode that may or may not be factors when setting up Repeater Bridge mode. I simply have not experimented with this. Refer to


Accessing Both Routers?

With this setup, I have full access to both routers — which runs contrary to a lot of the notes concerning Client Bridge mode. One router is http://192.168.1.1, and the other is http://192.168.1.2. I can access both from either side of the bridge. There is no need to change any settings or IP addresses or the like with this setup in order to do so!

MAC Filtering

For those of you who have enabled MAC filtering on your Primary router, you need to add the WLAN MAC address of your Secondary router to the permitted MAC filter list of the Primary router. This is different than the MAC address printed on the bottom of the case, you can find it by going to Status->Wireless and the top line will list the internal MAC address. Of course, you will want to add the MAC filter list to the Secondary router. This should be setup prior configuring your WPA, WPA2, etc. settings otherwise you will spend some time pondering why the bridge isn't working.

[EDIT - Redhawk] - The wording here was a little confusing. Once I used the Wireless MAC address then all worked correctly....the MAC filter address on the Primary router needs to be the "Wireless MAC" address listed on the Router Status page and not the LAN MAC address . (Use Router IP +2) - Yes...I know it says WLAN but for an noob doing this procedure it could be confused.


Special thanks to Griminal for providing a basic graphic which I modified for this Wiki Entry.