DD-WRT: router setup, step by step instruction and specifications

In the framework of this article, we will consider in detailA universal software shell for routers and routers of various levels DD-WRT. Customizing it, features installation and other important nuances associated with its use, will be further examined in detail in the context of the material you are submitting.

Purpose of the program

In most cases, beginners andundemanding users more than enough basic router firmware capabilities. But as a rule, this is not enough for network administrators. Therefore it is necessary in this case to make a choice: to buy equipment of a professional level with improved capabilities or to increase the capabilities of home routers due to flashing the software shell. Since the second option is more expedient from the economic point of view, it is on it that network administrators stop their choice. One of the most common options for such software is the DD-WRT utility. It is based on the operating system of the UNIX family and allows to significantly enhance the functionality of any network device of the initial class to a professional level.

Firmware Search

The first step is to find the actual version for your DD-WRT firmware router. Customize in this case it begins with this operation. To do this, you must perform the following actions:

On a PC that has access to the global web, start the browser.
In its address set we enter dd-wrt.com and press Enter.
After that, the start page of this Internet resource will be opened. Next, go to the tab Support. On it we find a hyperlink Devices List and open it.
In the list of router manufacturersfind your own and expand the list of supported models. If your router is not listed in this list, you can not install the DD-WRT shell on it. Otherwise, download the installation version of this utility for your particular device and save it on the hard disk of the personal computer.

Installing the new software shell

Configuring the DD-WRT firmware begins with its installation on the router. To do this, you must perform the following actions:

The computer must be directly connected to the network node using a twisted pair. Moreover, commutation can be permanent or temporary.
On the computer, run any available browser. In the address field of the last enter the address of the network node. This information can be specified in the documentation on the router, but, as a rule, it has the form 192.168.X.1. In some cases, instead of X, it is necessary to put 1, and in others - 0.
Further it is necessary to pass authorization. To do this, enter the user's login and password in the appropriate fields of the web interface. Click the "Login" button.
The next step is a menu section that is associated with the software update. In it we find the button Choose File ("Select a file") and click on it.
After that, the download window will open. Using it, we find the installation file of the utility previously downloaded from the official site DD-WRT. And click OK.
After we return to the update menu of the network node shell, we click the "Update" button and wait for the end of the procedure with the same name. In this case, the router can reboot.

Configuring the Router

The next important step is to correctly set the parameters of the DD-WRT utility. Configuring the Router in this situation consists of such sequential actions.

Enter the interactive setup interfacenetwork device. To this end, as noted earlier, on a PC with a direct connection to a router using a twisted pair, we launch the browser and enter the address of the device, which in this case has the form 192.168.1.1. In response to this, you will be prompted, in which you must specify the updated authorization parameters - administrator login and password.

After opening the interactive interface, you need to go to the tab Administation. On it we establish the following:

paragraph Info site - Disabled;
paragraph Language - Russian.
in the end we press Save, and after that the interface language must necessarily change to Russian.

Then go to the "Installation" tab and set the connection information. This is his type (L2TP, PPPoE, PPTP, for example), the addressing system(static or dynamic), authorization parameters in the provider's network (password and login specified in the contract for the provision of information from the global web), subnet mask, gateway and connection interface. This information can be obtained from the cable operator.

Next, in the network settings, configure the internal computer network. This is the addressing of devices, and the subnet mask.

IPTV

First, you need to make sure that thisthe service is indicated in the contract and is provided by the Internet provider. Then you need to check the correctness of the connection and remember the port number to which the set-top box is attached. It is recommended to use LAN port 4 for this purpose. The firmware version must be 24v1 or higher. Then you need to enter the interactive configuration interface of the network node. In it we find the tab "Security", and on it - "Firewall". This tab removes the checkbox "Filter multicast mail". In the "Wireless" section of the "Basic" sub-tab, set "Network Configuration" to "No Limits" and "Multicast Forwarding" to "Disabled". Set the starting address of wireless devices with 192.168.3.1. In the "Settings" section of the VLAN tab, select the checkboxes labeled for ports 1, 2, 3. Then check the three VLAN 7 flags (for LAN 1 ports - LAN 3), uncheck VLAN 0 (LAN 4). Apply the settings and reboot the network node. In the menu item "Settings" select the "Network" section and set the Unbridged check box for VLAN7 and Multicast forward for Disable. Below this entry, specify the IP address 192.168.2.1 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. In the "Settings" tab we select the "Network" section, we add two DHCP servers in the bottom area. One of them is VLAN7, and the second is eth1. In other fields, we leave everything unchanged. Reboot the router again. Further:

Go to the "Administration" and select the sub-item "Commands".
In the field to enter the last type:

Insmod ebtables

Insmod ebtable_filter Insmod ebt_pkttype Ebtables -A FORWARD -o - multicast -pcttype -j DROP Ebtables -A OUTPUT -o - multicast -ptytype -j DROP

After that click on the "Save" button.

At the end of this procedure, the DD-WRT IPTV setup is completed.

Configuring Wi-Fi

Configuring the wireless part of the computer network is the next important step in setting the program parameters of the DD-WRT. Setting up WiFi is as follows:

We start the Internet browser and go with the help of the authorization system into the interactive menu of the network device.
Go to the tab Wi-Fi. Then select the "Basic settings" tab.
On it we set the name of the network, its visibility, as well as its operating frequency (channel).
Save the specified parameters.
Go to the "Security" tab. It specifies the password and the type of encryption. Save them.

Functional Testing

The next step is to check the results of the DD-WRT configuration. Customize network node is already complete. To do this, first using a smartphone or tablet, we connect to the router and download any Internet resource. Then, using the wires, we also check for the presence of commutation. And finally, it is necessary to test the working capacity of the IPTV system.

Reviews of network specialists. Advantages and disadvantages

There are no significant shortcomings in thethe software shell DD-WRT. Configuring TP-Link, ASUS or any other network equipment is complicated, but at the same time its functionality level increases many times. So it turns out that at the same cost, you can get a router already professional level. But, again, if there is a need. For home use, this functionality is redundant. If we are talking about the office or industrial use, then this decision is fully justified.

Outcomes

An excellent software utility for turning budget routers into professional-level network solutions is DD-WRT. Customize of course, it becomes more complicated, but this solutionallows you to extend the capabilities of any router. Moreover, it works on existing hardware and does not need any additional investments.</ span </ p>