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

    pfSense, dd-wrt AP, how to access iot subnet from main subnet?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Wireless
    16 Posts 2 Posters 2.2k 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.
    • bthovenB
      bthoven @stephenw10
      last edited by

      @stephenw10 said in pfSense, dd-wrt AP, how to access iot subnet from main subnet?:

      So to be clear the DD-WRT device is running as a router at this point? (Yes, for .4.x and .5.x only. The main lan .2.x is still managed (dhcp, dns...)by pfSense)

      It has a WAN IP in the pfSense LAN subnet and the 192.168.4.x and .5.x exist only behind it? (Yes)

      Steve

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • stephenw10S
        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
        last edited by

        Ok, that's going to be ugly however you do it because of asymmetric routing.
        https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/firewall/troubleshooting-blocked-log-entries-due-to-asymmetric-routing.html#common-scenario

        Can you move the dd-wrt device onto a different subnet/interface?

        VLANs really would be waaaay better here.

        Steve

        bthovenB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • bthovenB
          bthoven @stephenw10
          last edited by

          @stephenw10 said in pfSense, dd-wrt AP, how to access iot subnet from main subnet?:

          Ok, that's going to be ugly however you do it because of asymmetric routing.
          https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/firewall/troubleshooting-blocked-log-entries-due-to-asymmetric-routing.html#common-scenario

          Can you move the dd-wrt device onto a different subnet/interface?

          VLANs really would be waaaay better here.

          Steve

          Hi Steve,
          Actually, that was what I originally intended to do, ie. vlan, dhcp, dns, all managed by pfSense; but I can't connect my end-devices to the virtual access points that are associated with the VLANs . I did this exercise with two other smaller APs running dd-wrt and openwrt, and it worked fine; but not with my Archer C9v1 dd-wrt. That's why I resorted to this less ideal solution; which is fine for me, except the ability to access them from my main LAN.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • stephenw10S
            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
            last edited by

            Ok but can you move the dd-wrt device, with the two subnets behind it, onto a different pfSense interface?

            Doing that will eliminate asymmetric routing issues which will otherwise be a headache.

            Steve

            bthovenB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • bthovenB
              bthoven @stephenw10
              last edited by

              @stephenw10 Can I do that without VLAN setting on the dd-wrt side?

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by

                Yes, if you have a spare NIC in your pfSense box.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • bthovenB
                  bthoven
                  last edited by

                  Thanks I have 2 spare NICs, but I tried to avoid having two APs, if possible. Thank you.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • stephenw10S
                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                    last edited by stephenw10

                    Ok but it you have the dd-wrt device connected on a different NIC to the LAN you will avoid asymmetric routing between LAN and either of the two subnets behind it. I suggest you do that and set up static routes in the pfSense to point to dd-wrt in the new subnet.
                    If you can disable outbound NAT in dd-wrt and have pfSense do that instead it will give you better visibility on the traffic.

                    Steve

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • bthovenB
                      bthoven
                      last edited by

                      Steve...thanks a lot for all your suggestions.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • bthovenB
                        bthoven
                        last edited by

                        Just to update that now my dd-wrt access point can have virtual AP, for iot devices, associated with VLAN and obtain dhcp/dns from pfSense. The main LAN network (wired and wireless) can access my iot devices; but not vice versa, as I required.

                        The solution is to run a patched wlconf and startup script on dd-wrt, as described in the dd-wrt forum:
                        https://forum.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=317181&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • stephenw10S
                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                          last edited by

                          Nice.
                          Worrying having to apply a patched command though. Might break if you ever update dd-wrt.
                          Have you tried OpenWRT on that hardware?

                          Steve

                          bthovenB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • bthovenB
                            bthoven @stephenw10
                            last edited by

                            @stephenw10 Openwrt has inadequate support on Broadcom chip. Partly support 2.4ghz wifi and do not support 5ghz band at all, etc....

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