Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    PfSense Multi-WAN Support Using a DD-WRT Flashed Router as a "Smart Switch"

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Routing and Multi WAN
    4 Posts 2 Posters 8.9k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • B
      blewis
      last edited by

      I'm in the process of setting up a Multi-WAN support using a low cost Alix kit at $200US w/ a WAN, LAN, & DMZ as the configured interfaces.  I don't own a Managed Smart Switch. It'll be a simple setup, I'm wondering if it's possible or has anyone used a DD-WRT router as the "Smart Switch" to enable VLAN/tagging instead of buying one of those managed smart switches, since it and OpenWRT are suppose to have much of the features of a Managed Smart Switch.

      I'll have 2-4 WAN connections [(DSL:1.5/384, Cable:6/768Mbps, Public WiFi (unreliable): 256-768/128Mbps, 3G(when I'm home)].  I'm hoping to grab a spare WRT54GL router and disable it's Wireless, flash it to a recent pre-SP2 release of DD-WRT, & properly configure it's ports for VLAN/tagging.

      The DMZ port will connect to a simple Public accessible Web server/NAS.

      The LAN port will connect to an old 5 switch.

      Does anyone know if such a setup is feasible, or has it been done.  It's the Multi-WAN interface, that I'm particularly unsure of.

      Any advice is GREATLY appreciated!

      -Brian Lewis

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • B
        blewis
        last edited by

        Anybody???

        Tried on a La F*nera connected to a "dumb" switch, w/ Fonera making it "smarter", & results weren't so great.  Anyhow, so far it does work well only on a Buffalo, CPU usage on the router is a bit high during heavy usage. May try OpenWRT later, but probably buying a used 10/100 managed switch online for less than $50 a much better option.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • K
          kevindd992002
          last edited by

          blewis, where you successful with this?

          I have about the same setup as yours. I want to use my DD-WRT-flashed WRT54G to act as a managed switch for making vlans and doing 802.1q tagging but I'm new to this VLAN setup thingy. Would you be able to help me?

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • B
            blewis
            last edited by

            I followed the model used at: http://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/HOWTO_setup_vlans_with_pfSense

            You must use the latest pre-sp2 release in the eko directory. It is more stable than the sp1 "stable" release.  dd-wrt isn't quite stable as it loses connectivity/locks up sometimes possible memory leaks.  I only used it for testing multi-wan….  What a pain!!  Get yourself a smart/managed 10/100Mbps used switch..  They are often thrown away by companies/government agencies...  They're considered "obsolete" by many now.  Save yourself the headache....  If you do plan on testing it, use buffalo's and wrt54g(l) routers w/ 4-8MB flash / 16-32MB ram.  If you need only dual wan, the ezplanet mod of dd-wrt is quite stable, though you need a 8/32MB router.

            good luck...

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • First post
              Last post
            Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.