How to set up Linksys WRT54G as wireless access
point only (Version 2++ 2008-02-09)
How to set up Linksys WRT54G as wireless
access point only (Version 2)
Why might you want to do this?
1) Reset the WRT54G to factory defaults
2) Connect a computer to the WRT54G
3) Sign in to configure the WRT54G
Why might you want to do this?
A
few folks asked me this. My main reason was that my Linksys BEFSR41V2 wired
router gave me the opportunity to forward WAN connection log records to
Wallwatcher using SNMP. This feature did not exist on the WRT54G using the
standard Linksys firmware, so I wanted to be able to use the BEF* as my primary
router and hang the WRT54G off it as a wireless access point.
Other
reasons why you might want do to this include using the WRT* unit as a wireless
range extender, or to separate wireless clients from a wired router for
security reasons.
You
also get to use the WRT54G as a switch for the connection of additional wired
devices.
As of 1/2008, see also these documents at Linksys:
- Cascading (Connecting) a Linksys Router to Another Linksys Router
- Connecting an Access Point with a Linksys Wired Router
- Getting Poor or No Signal on a Linksys Wireless Router
Network
The
following diagram shows how I connected the equipment. Note that my WRT54G is a
Version 2 unit. At the time I was using SveaSoft firmware.
As
you can see, the network contains a mixture of wired and wireless clients. The
DHCP server of the WRT54G is disabled, and its WAN connection is not used. The
BEF* router is the gateway for the LAN and manages the WAN connection. It also
includes static DNS settings from my ISP. You might not need to worry about
this, but if in doubt check with your ISP to find out what you need.
WRT54G configuration
There are other ways to “get
there from here”, but this depends on how you are set up initially. Needless to
say, I can’t be responsible for any problems that you might encounter.
1) Reset the WRT54G to factory defaults
The
first thing you will probably need to do will be to “hard reset” the WRT54G to
factory default settings. This WILL destroy any custom router settings, so be
sure to make written notes of these so you will be able to recreate them
later. This is NOT covered in this
document. Refer to your router’s manual and your ISP as may be required.
To
reset the router, use a paper clip or something similar to hold down the
recessed switch marked “Reset” for at least twenty seconds. If in doubt, refer to your router manual.
2) Connect a computer to the WRT54G
Next,
connect a computer to one of the four numbered ports on the back of the router
using a regular Ethernet patch cable. It should be set up to use DHCP to acquire
a dynamic address.
3) Sign in to configure the WRT54G
Now
use your web browser to sign in to the configuration web site on the router
using the default gateway address http://192.168.1.1,
and the default password “admin”.
Refer to your router manual if you are not sure.
4) Setup/Basic Setup
Setup/Basic
Setup options should now be configured as follows:
- Disable
the router’s DHCP server (clients will use the server on the BEF* router
at 192.168.2.254, which is also the gateway).
- Set a
static IP address for the WRT54G itself (I used 192.168.2.253).
- Set the
gateway address.
When
you have made your changes, hit the “Save Settings” button at the foot of the
page. The WRT54G will then reboot and you will lose your connection.
5) Rewire the LAN
Now
you have to connect the equipment as shown in the “Network” diagram above.
6) Setup/Advanced Routing
The
following steps might not be required, but this is what I did to get it working
for me.
Configure
Setup/Advanced Routing as below.
- Configure
the default route:
- Route for
the LAN:
- The
Routing Table now looks like this:
Notes
I
wrote up the first version of this document so I’d be able to remember how
recreate the configuration. Since then, the information has proved to be quite
popular, so I updated it and provided additional explanations. If you have any
comments or questions you can e-mail me here: info@michaelcook.ca.
You can check out other HOWTO’s here and various Hints and Tips here.
My
other web site is at www.michaelcook.ca.
Right
now I am using Sveasoft’s free Alchemy-V1.0
v3.37.6.8svV1.0 v3.37.6.8sv firmware. See http://www.linksysinfo.org/ for more
information on this and other 3rd party firmware for the WRT54G.
As of 1/2008, see also these documents at Linksys:
- Cascading (Connecting) a Linksys Router to Another Linksys Router
- Connecting an Access Point with a Linksys Wired Router
- Getting Poor or No Signal on a Linksys Wireless Router
[End
of document – Version 2 – 2006-08-22 plus minor updates 2008-02-03 and 2008-02-09]