Packets, and Gateways, and Routers, Oh My!

December 31, 2005 9:17 PM

I like to pretend that I'm a big networking wiz, but in reality, I don't even have the wits to play one on TV. Either way, I've been looking for something a little more robust in the router department for my home network, and I think I've found it with the Linksys WRT54G + DD-WRT firmware (v23, 12/25/05 release). And here's where the fun begins - Getting it to manage my DSL connection.

My ISP is Qwest. Previously, I ran their Actiontec gateway in Transparent briding mode (DHCP & NAT) off through to my craptacular D-Link router. Even though Qwest uses PPPOA, the D-Link didn't have that option, but using PPPOE worked somehow. I wasn't getting full thoroughput (the gateway was receiving 7mb/sec, but I was only getting 1.5mb/sec), but it worked.

Now, with the upgrade, I've got myself in the position of having WAAAAY more router power than I know what to do with. I basically need a step by step guide as to how to get this damned thing to work with Qwest DSL, for the reasonablyintelligentbutnotsohotwithnetworking kind of guy. I could go into all sorts of details as to how I've TRIED setting it up, but I think that will only confuse the situation at this point. For those who aren't familiar with the DD-WRT firmware, here's a demo page of the web interface, which no doubt will help in explaining the specifics of my problem to me.

I consider myself very technically inclined, but heavy duty networking is a SERIOUS weak spot of mine. No need to dumb it down too far, as I understand the basics, but I'm no pro, either.

The basics:
Gateway/DSL Modem: Actiontec in Transparent Bridging mode (192.168.0.1)
Router: WRT54G w/ DD-WRT v23 (192.168.1.1)
Qwest Primary DNS: 205.171.3.65
Qwest Secondary DNS: 205.171.2.65

Thank you - And, oh yeah, Happy New Year to ya'll out in mefiland as well!

posted by rabble to computers & internet (3 comments total)

Was there a question in there? I would say make sure things work first with the stock Linksys firmware and then try to get them to work with DD-WRT.
posted by jduckles at 8:19 AM on January 1, 2006

Here's a few threads on the dd-wrt forums regarding PPPOA connections.

To sum up though, it doesn't look good. You have to get a router with a built-in modem. According to the one thread, the Linksys WAG54G v2 or the D-Link DSL-G664T will both provide what you're looking for. For aftermarket firmware support on those models you might have to look at OpenWRT. The learning curve on that firmware is somewhat steep, but fun once you get into it.
posted by purephase at 9:05 AM on January 1, 2006

I have that router, and a PPPoA DSL connection. My advice would be: it doesn't work, give it up. I use the modem to do the PPPoA, and give out DHCP etc, but then, my modem does that. Also, AFAIK there's no PPPoA package for OpenWRT (which I use for other reasons than getting PPPoA working with it...).

I'm scared I'm being a little unhelpful, but I've invested some time and effort on this, and it sucked.
posted by pompomtom at 4:06 PM on January 1, 2006