Tutorial: How to turn a Tomato firmware device in to a transparent Access point

[narzy]

Flashing Tomato and Prepping the Router
Note: I have successfully done this with Linksys WRT54G and Linksys WRT54GS gateway devices YMMV.

Note 2: You will want to connect your computer directly to the devices wired LAN interface

Computer > Gateway (LAN)
it doesn't matter which LAN interface you use on the router

1. Open the administration control panel for your router
2. Go to the area to upload a new firmware
3. Upload the firmware for your specific device
   
   note: There are a number of different firmware files depending on the device you are using make sure you use the correct firmware for the correct device, if you are unsure of which to use the model and version are listed on the bottom of linksys devices, also consult the readme file. Documentation for Tomato is lacking. If you get stuck ask, recovering a 'bricked' firmware flash is do-able but can get complicated.
4. The new firmware will save your previous settings however because of the way this is done you will want to erase those settings and start from scratch
   
   note: this tutorial only covers setting the device up as an access point and nothing else
5. In tomato click 'Administration' then click 'Configuration' you will see an area with a drop down menu labled 'Restore Default Configuration' select the drop down menu and choose 'Erase all data in NVRAM memory (thorough) and click OK
   
   note: this will clear the NVRAM and configure the device in a fresh tomato state with a default IP address of 192.168.1.1 with username: admin password: admin it is STRONGLY suggested that you change at least the default password
   
6. Reboot the device using the 'Reboot' option near the bottom of the configuration page of Tomato or unplug the device for about 10 seconds and plug it back in
7. Wait for about a minute for the device to fully reboot
8. Open 192.168.1.1 in your web browser and login with username: admin password: admin you should now see the default Tomato status screen set to default settings. If your old settings are still there erase the NVRAM again and reboot.
9. In the Tomato control panel click Basic
10. On the Basic Configuration page under WAN / Internet set the following (if not already set):
    WAN / Internet
    Type: Static
    IP Address: 0.0.0.0
    Subnet Mask: 0.0.0.0
    Gateway: 0.0.0.0
    MTU: Default
11. Under LAN set the following
    LAN
    Router IP Address: <IP ADDRESS> this is the IP address you want to use for the access point, by default it is 192.168.1.1 you will probably want to change it.
    Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
    Default Gateway: <GATEWAY IP> this is the IP address of your gateway device that connects directly to the internet.
    Static DNS: I set this as the same as my Gateway IP because my gateway also acts as a DNS relay if you have a DNS server use that.
    
12. Untick the check box next to DHCP Server
    
    note: I use my gateway as a DHCP server the access point acts as a transparent bridge and the hosts obtain their address from the gateway.
    
13. Under Wireless set the following
    Enable Wireless: check this box
    Wireless Mode: Access Point
    B/G Mode: Mixed (You can force B or G if you would like)
    SSID : <YourSSID>
    Broadcast: check this box (for security you can turn this off if you would like)
    Channel: 7 (is right in the middle choose the channel you like best)
    Security: WPA2 Personal
    Encryption: TKIP/AES
    Shared Key: SomeVeryLongStringWithTextAndNumbers (or you can choose random and record the result and use that)
    Group Key Renewal: 3600 (works well for me you can change it if you have problems)
    
14. Click Save at the bottom of the screen
    

At this point you should be good to go, connect a wire from your gateway to a LAN interface (NOT the WAN) on the device.


This tutorial is given for informational purposes ONLY I will not be held responsible for any damage you cause by following the steps in this tutorial. If something goes wrong you agree that it is completely not my fault and absolve me of any claims. If your jurisdiction does not allow for this disclaimer you do not have permission to read this tutorial.

This tutorial is released under a Creative Commons Restricted license. You may use / reproduce this tutorial for non-profit use. You may not charge for this tutorial without reimbursing me.

 

[JackMDS]

Any Wireless Router can be used as an Access Point regardless of its Firmware.

There is Nothing special about Tomato regarding this configuration.

Wireless Router as an AP - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

 

[narzy]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Any Wireless Router can be used as an Access Point regardless of its Firmware.

There is Nothing special about Tomato regarding this configuration.

Wireless Router as an AP - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

QFT

This is the easiest I've been able to find and configure also one of the more reliable configurations for home use IMO.

 

[narzy]

If you guys like these types of tutorials I can keep them coming, but if you don't like them then there is no point in me putting time in to it .

 

[Poohbee]

Thanks for the great tutorial, it's a great resource to have around. Keep them coming =)

 

[blimey]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Any Wireless Router can be used as an Access Point regardless of its Firmware.

There is Nothing special about Tomato regarding this configuration.

Wireless Router as an AP - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

Excerpt from above link originally posted by: JackMDS

Entry Level Wireless Cable/DSL Routers cost the same or, less than Entry Level Access Points. The draw back is the settings. Wireless Cable/DSL Routers are set fix in Gateway Mode while Access Point can be configured in few ways.

That means that if you need a flexible system with a room for expansion you better off spending $20-$40 more and buy a good Access Point.

Jack, based on the above information (and other information in the link you cited), it seems that every (or 'any', as you put it) wireless router does lend itself equally well to serve as an access point.

Is this incorrect? Do you maintain that any wireless router is equally suited to serve as an access point?

 

[JackMDS]

Yes, Every Wireless Router works as an Access Point in the common infrastructure Mode.

What is a Wireless Router? It is a combo device of Routing Circuit, Switch, and Infrastructure Access Point.

While the Access Point in most Routers works only in one mode (Infrastructure) , stand-alone Access Points usually can be configured to other Wireless Modes as well (Bridge only, WDS, Client, Repeater etc.).

However over 95% of End-Users do not need the additional modes that are provided by standalone Access Points.

 

[narzy]

Originally posted by: blimey

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Any Wireless Router can be used as an Access Point regardless of its Firmware.

There is Nothing special about Tomato regarding this configuration.

Wireless Router as an AP - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

Excerpt from above link originally posted by: JackMDS

Entry Level Wireless Cable/DSL Routers cost the same or, less than Entry Level Access Points. The draw back is the settings. Wireless Cable/DSL Routers are set fix in Gateway Mode while Access Point can be configured in few ways.

That means that if you need a flexible system with a room for expansion you better off spending $20-$40 more and buy a good Access Point.

Jack, based on the above information (and other information in the link you cited), it seems that every (or 'any', as you put it) wireless router does lend itself equally well to serve as an access point.

Is this incorrect? Do you maintain that any wireless router is equally suited to serve as an access point?

couple of points here,
The firmware I use (DD-WRT or Tomato) allows you to modify which mode the AP will function in so instead of a fixed gateway you can choose other wireless modes if you need to.

The biggest problem with wireless routers stripped down to AP's is double NAT w/overload and on top of that generally it is on the wrong side of the firewall so everything wireless can access the wired network but wired can't access the wireless network...With the insturctions I put together, that is not an issue, it's transparent.

 

[MadFox]

Just to add to this tutorial if anyone is looking for more detailed documentation for Tomato firmware, there is a pretty good wikibook at http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tomato_Firmware

 

[narzy]

Great resource, Thanks MadFox

 

[narzy]

http://www.linksysinfo.org/for...forumdisplay.php?f=160

 

[johnnysmithy]

tried following this guide but failed miserably.
There's no "Default Gateway" that you can set under LAN, at least not in Tomato 1.21
Under LAN there's Router IP Address, Subnet Mask and Static DNS.
Can you please help me out? Is it possible to set tomato in bridge mode or something. I am in a similar situation as you (DSL modem+router and linksyswrt54) but i am unable to find a solution.

 

[narzy]

Hi JohnnySmithy,

Welcome to the AnandTech Forums

I'll be more than happy to try and help you. I've been playing with my WRT so I will need to install tomato once again to make sure that the updates to the firmware haven't changed anything. try putting your gateway address in the area that says Router IP Address and see if that works to begin with . You can also upload a screen shot to any of the popular image hosting sites and we can take a look at what you've got.

 

[beardpick]

You may want to amend your tutorial and insert steps for adding a port forward for port 80 to the IP that you assign to your LAN port. Otherwise you will only be able to configure the router by connecting to it through a wireless connection.

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: beardpick
You may want to amend your tutorial and insert steps for adding a port forward for port 80 to the IP that you assign to your LAN port. Otherwise you will only be able to configure the router by connecting to it through a wireless connection.

That would only apply if the AP was hooked up via the WAN port and not a LAN port. By using the LAN port you are staying on the same subnet so there's no need for any port forwardings as there is no NAT being done.

 

[beardpick]

Originally posted by: Crusty

Originally posted by: beardpick
You may want to amend your tutorial and insert steps for adding a port forward for port 80 to the IP that you assign to your LAN port. Otherwise you will only be able to configure the router by connecting to it through a wireless connection.

That would only apply if the AP was hooked up via the WAN port and not a LAN port. By using the LAN port you are staying on the same subnet so there's no need for any port forwardings as there is no NAT being done.

Not the case with Tomato 1.25. I've got it running on a WRT54GL, and the WAN port is checked to switch it to a LAN port, and it still doesn't allow for administration over the wired network unless 80 is explicitly forwarded to the static IP assigned to the LAN side.

 

[mandrivian]

I had tried to install tomato firmware on wrt54g ver.7 but it always failed.
Each time i try to uploading tomato firmware on linksys based firmware.it says FIRMWARE UPGRADE FAILED, what should i do.?

 

[Emulex]

i just buy the buffalo WZR-hp300gn and set it to AUTO mode, plug in the ethernet to the lan (router lan segment) and set the SSID/PASSWORD/WPA2+AES only. takes about 30 seconds.

to turn it into a router you just plug it into the cable modem instead of the router. i can't imagine there is any easier way. (can you tell i really like the buffalo router, 843mw of output power for 62 shipped amazon prime).

buffalo method (AP mode)
1. plug in ethernet to router lan port.
2. set SSID/PASSWORD
3. done - enjoy 300mbps connections all day long.

get rid of router and use buffalo as router.
1. remove router
2. plug buffalo into cable modem
3. done - enjoy 300 mbps connections all day long

Go back to AP mode.
1. Connector router back to cable mode
2. plug buffalo into ROUTER lan port
3. done - enjoy 300mbps connections all day long

Does it get any easier? nope.

 

[Blenheim]

version 1.28 of tomato allows you to set the WAN to 'disabled', as hinted at by others, and disabling DHCP so that anything connecting to the wireless grabs it from your other better DHCP server on the network. The beauty being that you have 3 (or 4) LAN ports to use in addition to having a wireless access point for $60. I've used that combo to extend a wireless network much farther than the nominal 340 feet you can normally get out of ethernet cable runs. Not to mention bandwidth management, QOS, and you can go back to using it as a router if you wish. Works splendidly with SIP applications that normally have trouble with SIP ALG as well.
FYI, i can browse to my 'access point' mode tomato wrt54gl just fine on the wired lan with no port forwarding in place. not sure what the difficulty is for the person who brought that up.
Some versions of the 54g are definitely not compatible with tomato firmware. go for the 54gl only if you want to be sure. cisco didn't know the ****storm they would cause by making the open firmware option unavailable on some of those models...

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