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

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    • 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

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      • 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.

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        • 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?

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            • stephenw10S
              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
              last edited by

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

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              • bthovenB
                bthoven
                last edited by

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

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                • 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

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                  • bthovenB
                    bthoven
                    last edited by

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

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                    • 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

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                      • 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

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                        • 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....

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