Help w/ RG and DD-WRT Router (I challenge the TechHeads)

stevedawg85 · ‎12-12-2008

My setup:

RG in computer room <Wireless>Linksys LINKSYS|WRT54G2 (DD-WRT Firmware) in Living Room <Hard Wired> 360, Slingbox, PC

The Linksys connects to the RG WIRELESSLY and acts as an access point. 360, Slingbox, PC - all connected w/ ethernet cord to Linksys.

360 and Sling have Static IP's (.77 & .79) and PC is automatically getting an IP.

My RG occasionally locks up (TV cable box freeze, internet dies) especially when I'm gaming on my 360. I opened up my RG's webpageand when I look at the "Home Network" > "Local Devices", it only shows the Linksys device w/ a wireless symbol. After a few minutes, the IP address will change, but the MAC address remains the Linksys router. What I mean by this is that the 360's static IP will show up in "Device Details", after a few minutes, the PC's IP will show up, then sling, etc. in any order. But this entire time, Mac address remains the same (Linksys Mac address)

Summary.....

My RG sees the router as one device but three devices are connected to it. Although all three devices will work simultaneously,after about 10 minutes, the RG will lock up. After I turn off the Xbox, the RG will reconnect and back to regular service.

djrobx · ‎04-30-2005

So you mean you've got DD-WRT working in client mode. I do exactly that with the U-verse RG and I have absolutely no trouble with U-verse identifying devices behind my DD-WRT bridge individually with their separate MAC addresses. The devices show that they're wirelessly connected.

On the Wireless tab, I have:

"Wireless mode" set to "Client Bridge"

"Wireless network mode" set to "Mixed"

SSID set to my SSID

Network Configuration set to bridged.

I have v24rc4

Message Edited by djrobx on 04-07-2009 11:56 PM

stevedawg85 · ‎12-12-2008

My system works perfectly fine with only 1 device (360).

2 devices connected work ok, (only 1 active), but when I turn on the 360 and connect to xbox live, after a few minutes the system will crash.

djrobx,

Do you have multiple devices active simultaneously, if so, what devices? Have you ever checked active devices on your RG? If so, do you have multiple devices under your DD-WRT router? My prob is that it only recognizes 1 devices and the IP address jumps b/t the devices while all remaining the same MAC address.

Computer-Joe · ‎09-19-2008

stevedawg85 wrote:
My setup:

RG in computer room <Wireless>Linksys LINKSYS|WRT54G2 (DD-WRT Firmware) in Living Room <Hard Wired> 360, Slingbox, PC

The Linksys connects to the RG WIRELESSLY and acts as an access point. 360, Slingbox, PC - all connected w/ ethernet cord to Linksys.

360 and Sling have Static IP's (.77 & .79) and PC is automatically getting an IP.

My RG occasionally locks up (TV cable box freeze, internet dies) especially when I'm gaming on my 360. I opened up my RG's webpageand when I look at the "Home Network" > "Local Devices", it only shows the Linksys device w/ a wireless symbol. After a few minutes, the IP address will change, but the MAC address remains the Linksys router. What I mean by this is that the 360's static IP will show up in "Device Details", after a few minutes, the PC's IP will show up, then sling, etc. in any order. But this entire time, Mac address remains the same (Linksys Mac address)

Summary.....
My RG sees the router as one device but three devices are connected to it. Although all three devices will work simultaneously,after about 10 minutes, the RG will lock up. After I turn off the Xbox, the RG will reconnect and back to regular service.

Firt of all, IMHO your just asking for trouble with the setup you describe. Although the wireless radio in the RG is fairly strong, it is not very stable in the presence of EMI, RFI, or excessive network traffic from internal (LAN gaming machines), or external (other wireless networks in range) sources.

Are you using the DHCP server in the RG or the Linksys for the devices connected to the Linksys? Another issue that might create the problem is the static addresses assigned to your gaming machines. I have found that the RG does not like when it comes across addresses that fall within its default DHCP address pool, which starts at .64, I believe and goes to .253. So, I would suggest not using static IPs or move those gaming machine addresses down under .64.

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stevedawg85 · ‎12-12-2008

Under .64, really, that a typo right? I could have swore I saw somewhere on the RG the range is from .64 ~ .265.

I'll try the sugestion about setting the 360 to attain an IP. The DHCP is disabled on the Linksys and recieves the IP from the RG.

My main concern is how do I get the RG to recognize three separate devices? I still want to say that is what is causing the problem; my setup is confusing the RG which makes it lock up.

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

Your DD-WRT is not configured correctly. There is something wrong if all 3 devices are being identified as having the same MAC address.

The DD-WRT should be doing transparent bridging. The devices connected to the DD-WRT should all get their own IP addresses and the RG should show their individual MAC addresses.

stevedawg85 · ‎12-12-2008

"Transparent Briding" ok now we are getting somewhere.

I have the Linksys WRT54G2, and unfortunately, only supports Micro DD-WRT. Please tell me "Micro" can support this transparent bridging.

I did a quick google search and found this:

"DD-WRT's "client bridge" mode" is not a transparent bridge.......To create a true transparent bridge, with multiple ethernet devices at both sides, use WDS."

Doesn't WDS require the 2 routers be wired directly to each other? Can you confirm from my half-assed research if this info is correct?

/sigh....

Time to do some research on WDS....

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

Yes, you are correct.

No wireless client that is communicating with a standard wireless access point can masquerade multiple MAC addresses. This is a limitation of the 802.11 standard.

You will have to use 2 Linksys routers, and set up a Wireless Bridge (not WDS).

stevedawg85 · ‎12-12-2008

Do they have to be Linksys routers? If yes, do they both have to be DD-WRT?

The reason I ask is because I only have one DD-WRT device and I HAVE to use my 2wire as it is also my modem.

Wireless Bridge huh....

I have tried repeater, repeater bridge, and client bridge, but none perform the transparent bridging i need.

I'll have to try Wireless Bridge when I get home tonight. I'm not too optimistic, but I'm always willing to try something new.

stevedawg85 · ‎12-12-2008

oh wait, dumb me....

Client Bridge is the same as Wireless bridge right? If so, I have already tried this on different DD-WRT firmwares (currently 11296) and multiple times.

PowerCycle · ‎03-27-2009

OMG!!! This techy stuff is giving me a headache. Why are you making things complicated? Just go and plug your computer directly to the RG for hardwired connection, and connect computer directly to wireless from RG without any third party devices. Hehehe.