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