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    Setting up a WLAN using Linksys (DD-WRT) on OPT1 - stuck for 3 days!

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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    • JailerJ Offline
      Jailer
      last edited by

      c. I set 'advanced routing' in dd-wrt to be 'Router'

      I'm no ddwrt expert but I'm guessing this is your problem. Disable the routing functions on the Linksys 1900AC router and assign it a static IP outside the DHCP range that you set in pfSense WLAN.

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      • P Offline
        P3R
        last edited by

        @Jailer:

        c. I set 'advanced routing' in dd-wrt to be 'Router'

        I'm no ddwrt expert but I'm guessing this is your problem.

        Unless major changes have been made that isn't the problem.

        "Router" is what I use on every DD-WRT that I use as access points behind my pfSenses. In DD-WRT what shouldn't be used is "Gateway", as that would assume the WAN port to be conncted to an ISP and doing NAT (not that it matters too much when only connecting the LAN ports…).

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        • stephenw10S Online
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          Yeah, router mode sounds wrong but between that and gateway mode it's definitely preferable. Is there not an 'access point' mode?

          This would seem to imply not: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Access_Point

          If you are able to pull a dhcp lease from pfSense on a client connected to one of the 1900AC LAN ports but not the wifi then it's still doing something between those interfaces. Routing probably. They need to be bridged.

          Steve

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          • P Offline
            P3R
            last edited by

            @cs1212:

            e. On a physical level, from what I understand it has to be a LAN-LAN connection not (Linksys WAN port -> pfSense igb3). so, I have LAN-LAN connected.

            If you tick the "Assign WAN Port to Switch" option in Setup, Basic Setup, WAN Port, it can also be used as a LAN port.

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            • P Offline
              P3R
              last edited by

              @stephenw10:

              Yeah, router mode sounds wrong but between that and gateway mode it's definitely preferable. Is there not an 'access point' mode?

              No, there's no AP mode.

              This is from the online help: "If the router is hosting your Internet connection, select Gateway mode. If another router exists on your network, select Router mode.".

              In router mode with WAN disabled, DD-WRT is simply a single network router. There's nothing wrong with that.

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              • P Offline
                P3R
                last edited by

                @cs1212:

                I have enabled DHCP on WLAN (OPT1), but It is not handing out IP's ..

                You should have your DD-WRT Setup, Basic Setup, Network Address Server Settings (DHCP), DHCP Type set to "DHCP Forwarder" and pointing to the pfSense interface (192.168.1.1 if I'm not wrong). Is that what you have?

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                • stephenw10S Online
                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                  last edited by

                  It's been a while since I used dd-wrt but on most soho routers like that the wifi is bridged to the LAN switch so they appear as a single layer2. If the wifi clients are broadcasting dhcp requests I would expect them to hit the pfSense dhcp server on opt1. If they don't then dd-wrt is filtering between the interfaces or routing between them. Something is getting in the way of that traffic.

                  That's assuming a client connected to on the of the other LAN ports on the 1900AC is getting a lease correctly.

                  Steve

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                  • C Offline
                    cs1212
                    last edited by

                    thanks. I plugged a laptop straight into OPT1 - laptop is not getting IP.
                    in firewall rules, for WLAN I have  have an ALLOW all from WLAN net to *
                    DHCP is enabled on OPT1

                    **I've done a packet capture, I see

                    17:26:12.518827 IP 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: UDP, length 300

                    coming in, so it looks like the laptop is requesting an IP. it has to be my FW rules ?**
                    any ideas?

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                    • P Offline
                      P3R
                      last edited by

                      @stephenw10:

                      It's been a while since I used dd-wrt but on most soho routers like that the wifi is bridged to the LAN switch so they appear as a single layer2. If the wifi clients are broadcasting dhcp requests I would expect them to hit the pfSense dhcp server on opt1.

                      That's the way it is in DD-WRT by default also.

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                      • P Offline
                        P3R
                        last edited by

                        @cs1212:

                        thanks. I plugged a laptop straight into OPT1 - laptop is not getting IP.
                        in firewall rules, for WLAN I have  have an ALLOW all from WLAN net to *
                        DHCP is enabled on OPT1

                        I've now seen you mention igb3, OPT1 and WLAN. I'm assuming they are all referring to the same interface, but are they really?

                        If yes, please stick with calling it only a single name.

                        Remember that what is obvious to you isn't to us as we don't see the screens you're looking at.

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                        • C Offline
                          cs1212
                          last edited by

                          Yes, you are correct and right..  OPT1=WLAN=igb3

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                          • C Offline
                            cs1212
                            last edited by

                            @cs1212:

                            thanks. I plugged a laptop straight into OPT1 - laptop is not getting IP.
                            in firewall rules, for WLAN I have  have an ALLOW all from WLAN net to *
                            DHCP is enabled on OPT1

                            **I've done a packet capture, I see

                            17:50:25.377638 IP 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: UDP, length 300
                            17:50:28.379503 IP 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: UDP, length 300
                            17:50:36.382661 IP 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: UDP, length 300
                            17:50:42.340831 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:50:42.342599 ARP, Request who-has 192.168.0.124 tell 169.254.104.103, length 46
                            17:50:42.981205 ARP, Request who-has 192.168.0.124 tell 169.254.104.103, length 46
                            17:50:43.090581 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:50:43.855037 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:50:43.979626 ARP, Request who-has 192.168.0.124 tell 169.254.104.103, length 46
                            17:50:44.620016 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:50:45.383867 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:50:46.148302 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:50:46.913263 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:50:47.677125 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:50:48.441553 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:50:49.206350 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:50:49.970376 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:50:50.734795 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:50:51.749021 IP 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: UDP, length 300
                            17:51:24.775043 IP 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: UDP, length 300
                            17:51:28.799771 IP 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: UDP, length 300
                            17:51:36.802889 IP 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: UDP, length 300
                            17:51:52.824513 IP 0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: UDP, length 300
                            17:52:03.351494 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:52:03.352968 ARP, Request who-has 192.168.0.124 tell 169.254.104.103, length 46
                            17:52:03.978400 ARP, Request who-has 192.168.0.124 tell 169.254.104.103, length 46
                            17:52:04.103399 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:52:04.867804 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:52:04.976828 ARP, Request who-has 192.168.0.124 tell 169.254.104.103, length 46
                            17:52:05.632833 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:52:06.396647 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:52:07.161077 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:52:07.926051 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:52:08.689911 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:52:09.454331 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:52:10.219321 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:52:10.983167 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50
                            17:52:11.747574 IP 169.254.104.103.137 > 169.254.255.255.137: UDP, length 50**
                            any ideas?

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                            • D Offline
                              doktornotor Banned
                              last edited by

                              How about reading the docs?

                              https://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Access_Point

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                              • C Offline
                                cs1212
                                last edited by

                                @doktornotor:

                                How about reading the docs?

                                https://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Access_Point

                                Not helpful for the OPT1 DHCP problem

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                                • P Offline
                                  P3R
                                  last edited by

                                  Post screenshots of your DHCP configuration and firewall rules for the WLAN interface in pfSense.

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                                  • C Offline
                                    cs1212
                                    last edited by

                                    @P3R:

                                    Post screenshots of your DHCP configuration and firewall rules for the WLAN interface in pfSense.

                                    Here's a few .. v weird.

                                    FYI - DHCP on LAN works OK:

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                                    • D Offline
                                      doktornotor Banned
                                      last edited by

                                      There's no need for the DHCP rule you put there in the first place. Also, there's DHCP log and there's firewall log. Look there.

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                                      • C Offline
                                        cs1212
                                        last edited by

                                        I decided to REBOOT pfSense and ALL fixed.
                                        also removed the 0.0.0.0 FW rule and still works.
                                        So.. sometimes its a simple Reboot.
                                        thanks to everyone who helped.

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                                        • D Offline
                                          doktornotor Banned
                                          last edited by

                                          Hmmmm, the mighty Redmond method…  ;D :D

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                                          • GertjanG Offline
                                            Gertjan
                                            last edited by

                                            I'm using 3 Linksys routers (as dumb AP devices) loaded with DD-WRT for the last …. many years !
                                            Version : Firmware: DD-WRT v24-sp2 (10/10/09) std

                                            My wifi network is hooked up to pfSense, OPT2, using 192.168.2.1/24.

                                            AP1 has IP 1912.168.2.2
                                            AP2 has IP 1912.168.2.3
                                            AP3 has IP 1912.168.2.4

                                            For all AP's :
                                            Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0
                                            Gateway : 192.168.2.1
                                            Local DNS : 192.168.2.1

                                            Local DHCP server : disabled.

                                            WAN Connection Type : disabled.

                                            All my AP's are hooked up to pfSense using a central switch, but daisy chaining from OPT1 to AP1 to AP2 etc is also possible (I never use the WAN port, even when it is declared as another LAN port).

                                            No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
                                            Edit : and where are the logs ??

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