Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 1/14
Home
Main MenuCloud Computing
Content delivery networkDatacenter
HardwareIT / Linux Security
MobileAndroid
iOS
NetworkingOpen sourceProgramming
Linux Shell ScriptingPython
Reviews
Storage
Virtualization
HowTos
Bash (CLI)
Linux Distros
CentOS
Debian
Red Hat (RHEL)
Ubuntu
Novell / OpenSuse
Unix
Apple Mac OS X
FreeBSD
OpenBSD
Video / Multimedia Editing
TroubleshootingAbout
Contact usArchives – Old blog posts
Low graphicsForums
RSS/Feed
nixcraft - insight into linux admin work
HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly (
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 2/14
Bridge ) With Open Source Software
by nixCraft on August 31, 2012 · 6 comments· Last updated October 2, 2012
in Networking, Open Source
You can setup a wireless connection between two routers only so that it will link a wireless network to a wired networkallowing you to bridge two networks with different infrastructure. You can find wireless access points products that offer
either a "bridge" mode or a "repeater" mode. In this post I'm going to explain three popular open source choices thatcan be used for setting up a wireless bridge.
Sample setup
Consider the following network diagram:
Fig.01: Wireless client setup
You connect to the Internet using standalone ADSL2 modem with 202.54.1.1 public IP address.
SSID set to nixcraft on wireless # 1 and an IP address set to 192.168.1.2. This router is located in downstairs
and connected to ADSL2 modem.SSID set to nixcraft on wireless # 2 and an IP address set to 192.168.1.1. This router works in client bridge
mode and located in upstairs.
All computers and devices connected to wireless router #1 and #2 can share files and other resources with each
other.
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 3/14
Fig.02: Access point as a wireless bridge
Where,
This setup saves electricity and resources by removing standalone ADSL 2 modem.
You connect to the Internet using combo ADSL2 modem plus wireless router (AP) with 202.54.1.1 public IP
address. This router is called wireless #1 and SSID is set to nixcraft. This device has two IP address and it islocated in downstairs.
SSID set to nixcraft on wireless # 2 and an IP address set to 192.168.1.1. This router works in client bridge
mode and located in upstairs.
All computers and devices connected to wireless router #1 and #2 can share files and other resources with eachother.
Software (3rd party firmware)
You can use the following software / firemware to get the addition features which are not typically included in a
manufacturer's router firmware such as client mode wireless bridge. You can either setup a full WAP or just bridge your
LAN so that wireless devices can get access to all LAN resources transparently.
1. DD-WRT : Linux-based alternative OpenSource firmware for wireless routers. It works for several routers,
most notably the Linksys. It works great with variety of wireless routers and embedded systems. This is
recommend for new users as it comes with easy to use web-gui.2. Tomato : Another simple and easy to use replacement firmware for Linksys' WRT54G/GL/GS, Buffalo WHR-
G54S/WHR-HP-G54, Asus and other Broadcom-based routers. It features a new easy to use GUI, a new
bandwidth usage monitor, more advanced QOS and access restrictions, enables new wireless features such as
WDS and wireless client modes, raises the limits on maximum connections for P2P, allows you to run yourcustom scripts or telnet/ssh in and do all sorts of things like re-program the SES/AOSS button, adds wireless site
survey to see your wifi neighbors, and more. This is recommend for new users as it comes with easy to use web-
gui.
3. OpenWrt : OpenWrt is not just firmware but it is often described as a complete Linux distribution for embeddeddevices. Instead of trying to create a single, static firmware, OpenWrt provides a fully writable filesystem with
package management. This frees you from the application selection and configuration provided by the vendor and
allows you to customize the device through the use of packages to suit any application. This firmware is
recommend for advanced users only.4. DIY option - You can install Linux or FreeBSD/OpenBSD based operating systems and create a full WAP or
just a bridge. This option requires good understanding of Unix, networks and embedded devices.
I strongly recommend DD-wrt for new users and openwrt for advanced Linux users.
Hardware
I've used the following devices in last couple of years for personal usage:
1. Linksys WRT 54 with DD-WRT firmware.
2. Dlink DIR-615 with DD-WRT firmware.3. Asus RT 16 with Tomato firmware.
4. Soekris net4801 with DIY option. You can use Debian/Ubuntu/CentOS Linux and FreeBSD/OpeNBSD. This
option is only recommended for advanced hardcore unix users.
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 4/14
You can find list of supported router hardware by visiting the following pages:
Search dd-wrt hardware database.
Search openwrt hardware database.Search tomato hardware database or read README file.
Example: Configuring Asus RT-16 as a wireless bridge
Let us see how to configure a wireless connection between two routers only as discussed earlier with tomato firmware.
Wireless # 1: ADSL2+router configuration
This is my ADSL 2 modem + wireless router (netgear N600) that connects to my ISP. This is my primary router and it
is called wireless #1. Open a browser and type:
http://192.168.1.2
Make sure LAN setup is as follows:
Fig.03: Netgear N600 (DGND3700) Static Lan IP Configuration For Wireless Bridge
1. Set the IP address of your router in dotted decimal notation to 192.168.1.2 (factory default: 192.168.0.1).
2. Also set IP subnet mask to 255.255.255.0. Your router will automatically calculate the subnet mask based on
the IP address that you assign. Unless you are implementing subnetting, use 255.255.255.0 as the subnet mask
(computed by the router).
Setup wireless as follows:
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 5/14
Fig.04: Prepare Netgear N600 / DGND3700 For Wireless Client Bridge Mode
1. Set SSID to nixcraft.
2. Setup mode as per your requirements. I set it to 300Mbps performance mode, with a maximum Wireless-N
speed.
3. Set security options to WPA2-PSK standard encryption with the AES encryption type.
4. Finally, set the WPA passphrase (network key) as per your requirements. For demonstration purpose I set it to"Neil_Armstrong".
Wireless # 2: Router client bridge configuration
I'm assuming that you've already replaced your default firmware with DD-WRT/Tomato/Open-WRT. In this example,
I'm going to use tomato firmware.
How do I use Tomato firmware as wireless ethernet bridge?
Fire a web browser and type the following url:
http://192.168.1.1
Click on Basic > Networking. Make sure LAN is setup as follows:
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 6/14
Fig.05: Totmato USB firmware LAN setup for wireless bridge
1. Make sure router IP address is set to 192.168.1.1.
2. Make sure subnet is set to 255.255.255.0.
3. Make sure default gateway is set to 192.168.1.2 (IP address of wireless # 1).4. Make sure static DNS is set to 192.168.1.2 (IP address of wireless # 1). However, you can set it to OpenDNS
or Google DNS.
Scroll down to the Wireless section and set it as follows:
Fig.06: Tomato wireless settings for br0
1. Set wireless mode to "Wireless Ethernet Bridge".
2. Set wireless network mode to "N only" or as per your requirements.
3. set SSID to "nixcraft".
4. Set security to "WPA-2 Personal" and encryption to "TKIP/AES".5. Set shared key to WPA passphrase (see Fig.04: Prepare Netgear N600 / DGND3700 For Wireless Client
Bridge Mode). In this example set it to "Neil_Armstrong".
Click on Advanced > Routing:
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 7/14
Fig.07: Setup tomato in gateway mode
1. Set mode to "Gateway"
2. Make sure RIP1 & v2 set in "Disabled" mode.
3. Turn on "DHCP routes" for dhcp relays i.e. send all dhcp requests to DHCP server located at 192.168.1.2 (or
any other server on LAN)
Click on Advanced > Firewall. Set it as follows:
Fig.08: Firewall settings for br0
You are done. Configure any other settings you wish at this point. To see current router status click on Status >Overview:
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 8/14
Fig.09: Tomato status page - running in a bridge mode
Have any advice for better 3rd party firmware or software? Let's hear them in the comments.
TweetTweet 33
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 9/14
45
Like 48
You should follow me on twitter here or grab rss feed to keep track of new changes.
Featured Articles:
30 Handy Bash Shell Aliases For Linux / Unix / Mac OS X
Top 30 Nmap Command Examples For Sys/Network Admins
25 PHP Security Best Practices For Sys Admins20 Linux System Monitoring Tools Every SysAdmin Should Know
20 Linux Server Hardening Security Tips
Linux: 20 Iptables Examples For New SysAdmins
Top 20 OpenSSH Server Best Security Practices
Top 20 Nginx WebServer Best Security Practices
20 Examples: Make Sure Unix / Linux Configuration Files Are Free From Syntax Errors
15 Greatest Open Source Terminal Applications Of 2012
My 10 UNIX Command Line Mistakes
Top 10 Open Source Web-Based Project Management Software
Top 5 Email Client For Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows Users
The Novice Guide To Buying A Linux Laptop
6 comments
Leave a message...
BestBest CommunityCommunity
ShareShare
• Reply •
Joe Cruz • 7 months ago
I have a similar setup at home. I use a stock Linksys E2500 as the main Router because of the
simultaneous dual band capability. I have a Linksys E2000 running Tomato Toastman's build on 5ghz band
for my home theater so that I can provide wired ethernet to a Roku and a Blue Ray player. I also have a
Linksys WRT160N v1 also running Tomato Toastman's build to provide wired ethernet to my home office.
This allows for watching video on 5ghz without any interference to the data network running on 2.4ghz.
1
Matthew Moldvan • 2 months ago
In figure 6, setting Wireless Mode to "Wireless Ethernet Bridge" and Wireless Network Mode to "N
Only" doesn't work. Wireless Network Mode has to be set to Auto when it's in wireless client mode... I see in
1
Share ›
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 10/14
What's this?ALSO ON NIXCRAFT BLOG
Top 8 Tools To Search Memory Under Linux /Unix [ Forensics Analysis ]
4 comments • 14 days ago
nixcraft — Comments are moderated and it takes time
to see it posted. HTH
Solaris / Linux: nicstat Command Show NetworkInterface Card Statistics
11 comments • 23 days ago
jhansen — sar -n DEV ...i love sar
Download of the day: Kali Linux ( BackTrackLinux )
4 comments • 20 days ago
Djarn Nicholas — calm down, it was typo, breath in,
breath out
Amazon Cloudfront Dynamic Content DeliveryWith A WordPress Blog
8 comments • a month ago
nixcraft — No. The MySQL db and other files resides on
your origin server. Cloudfront caches everything as per
max-age header. HTH
• Reply •
Only" doesn't work. Wireless Network Mode has to be set to Auto when it's in wireless client mode... I see in
your last figure that it's set that way.
0
• Reply •
Jos e • 4 months ago
So, i followed the steps and I think I did it ok, but I don't know how to see which router I am
connected to... How can I check if I did everything ok?
0
• Reply •
Manoj .V.Nai r • 7 months ago
Hi
I have a doubt that is it possible to use different range of ip address on both routers so that internal routing
can be possible?
Also if the Name resolution can be possible in virtual NICs, then is there any place for router?
0
• Reply •
Rick • 7 months ago
I think you have two typos. Figure 03 looks good, but right under it Step 1, I believe should be
192.168.1.2 and Step 2, you have 25 instead of 255 for the first part of the subnet mask.
0
• Reply •
Vivek Gi te • 6 months ago Rick
Thanks for the heads up!
0
Com m ent feed Subs cribe via em ai l
Share ›
Share ›
Share ›
Share ›
Share ›
Previous post: Firefox 15 Released With Silent, Background Updates and Opus Audio Support
Next post: remark Command: Highlight Any Text or Command Output Using Regular Expressions
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 11/14
GET FREE TIPS & NEWS
Make the most of Linux Sysadmin work!
Enter your email Join
Youtube | Twitter | Google +
Classifieds in Pakistanw w w .OLX.com.pk
Everything you w ant, everything you need: TryOLX Free Classif ieds!
Jobs Dubaijobrapido.com/jobs+dubai
5 urgent open positions. Apply now ! Jobs Dubai
Create a Facebook ProfileFacebook.com
World's Largest Online Community. Join for Free &Enjoy the Benefits!
Wireless Home Securityw w w .aesecurity.com
Protect Your Home W/ A Security System Today!Honeyw ell & Ademco
nixCraft
Like
31,318 people like nixCraft.
Facebook social plugin
Related Posts
5 Linux / Unix Commands For Connecting To The Serial Console
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 12/14
Top 30 Nmap Command Examples For Sys/Network Admins
Download Slackware 14.0 CD / ISO Images
Testing HTTP Status: 206 Partial Content and Range Requests
Solaris / Linux: nicstat Command Show Network Interface Card Statistics
Download Samba 4: Active Directory Compatible Server
HowTo: Linux Hard Disk Encryption With LUKS [ cryptsetup Command ]
Download of the day: Kali Linux ( BackTrack Linux )
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 13/14
Top 6 Open Source Disk Cloning and Imaging Softwares
Linux ifdata Command: See Network Interface Info Without Parsing ifconfig
Output
Celem power capacitor.www.celem.comPower capacitor for wireless energytransfer like induction charging.
Arduino Boardsmicrocontrollershop.comAVR ATmega microcontroller boards withArduino bootloader
VpnOneClickwww.vpnoneclick.comKeep your privacy and unlock all blockedservice by the fastest Vpn
Password ManagerDashlane.comStore Online Passwords Securely. GetDashlane Today Free!
Cisco 3900 Router PriceRouter-switch.com/Cisco_3900_RouterCisco 3925 3945 Router NEW STOCK8000+ Buyers Worldwide! 1 Year Warr
The Best Arduino Dealswww.adafruit.com/arduinoArduino at Adafruit. Boards, Kits,Accessories And More.
Garrettcom Solutionsdata-connect.comGold Partner - Quick Delivery Call 301-924-7400x17
32-bit microchip dev kitswww.digilentinc.com/chipKITchipKIT Uno32 and Max32 Pic32 boardsfrom Digilent.
Find us on Google+
4/3/13 HowTo: Connect Two Wireless Router Wirelessly ( Bridge )
www.cyberciti.biz/networking/howto-connect-two-wireless-router-wirelessly-bridge-with-open-source-software/ 14/14
©2004-2013 nixCraft. All rights reserved. Cannot be reproduced without written permission.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Questions or Comments | Copyright Info | Sitemap
