pfSense with OpenWRT HH5 (bridge modem and use built-in wireless AP and switch)

alexdodd · Apr 25, 2020, 6:05 PM

I'm trying to understand what I need to change to achieve this. Hopefully someone already uses a HH5 with OpernWRT and pfsense! :)

I currently use a homehub5 running OpenWRT, its mostly serviced me well, despite being relatively underpowered. But its connected to sky fibre better than the generic modem/router sky sent me.

I want to put a pfsense box inbetween, and left this do the heavy lifting, routing, dhcp, and openVPN work. Leave the HH5 to Modem, Switch and Dump AP.

I think this means I need to bridge the modem to the pfsense box, and have pfsense connect direct to Sky?

Then have pfsense plug back in to the built in switch, and disable all dhcp and firewall rules on openWRT.

Does this sound right? I'm somewhat confused how to achieve all this, and wonder if there are any good tutorials or guides anywhere that i can reference, because once i mess up I naturally cut off my internet too

alexdodd · Apr 25, 2020, 8:03 PM

Ok so following on from marjohn56 here: http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/ipv6/58986-sky-ipv6-settings-non-sky-routers-28.html#post466599

I'm pretty sure i have pfsense set up right, but i can figure out how to bridge the modem connection to the WAN port in the homehub5a with OpenWRT. Not sure its actually possible....

alexdodd · Apr 25, 2020, 9:18 PM

Having done some more reading, sorry for my dumb questions it looks like I should be buying one of the following:
Zyxel Vmg8324
Billion 8800NL
Draytek vigor 130
Huawei hg612

Since i dont think a direct bridge mode is supported by OpenWRT with the HomeHub5a

:)

stephenw10 · Apr 25, 2020, 11:30 PM

Sky use a slightly different connection to most UK ISPs for FTTC. They don't use PPPoE so you need a modem that supports. I believe most do but I've never tested that myself. The V130 is reported as working in quite a few places.

Steve

alexdodd · Apr 26, 2020, 12:07 AM

@stephenw10 Its quite expensive from what I can see, I've bought a cheap hg612 to play with first, if its not quick enough i'll consider the others!

stephenw10 · Apr 26, 2020, 12:22 AM

The HG612 will be plenty fast enough if it works, it doesn't really do anything but pass the traffic to pfSense.

I think you will need it unlocked to change to bridge mode. That's quite easy though.

I hope it's the 3B version. Some of the earlier ones had known over heating issues.

Steve