DD-WRT Xbox LIVE open NAT

When I first setup my DD-WRT router I had problems with Xbox LIVE reporting strict NAT and then moderate NAT.

To achive "open" NAT status on Xbox LIVE your best bet is ALWAYS UPnP.

Not DMZ.
Not even setting up manual LIVE port forwarding.

Both of these methods fall apart if you have two Xboxs. UPnP allows the Xbox(s) to decide the best ports to use, when they should be open and when to close them.

By default the DD-WRT v24 firmware disables UPnP.

To Enable UPnP on DD-WRT v24:
NAT / QoS -> UPnP ->
UPnP Service: Enabled

Click Apply. You may need to reboot your xbox for changes to take effect.

In order for UPnP to work as intended the client device (the xbox) must be using DHCP to obtain an IP address from the UPnP enabled router. To verify your Xbox is using DHCP, as opposed to assigning itself a static ip - open the dashboard and navigate to:
System -> Network Settings -> Edit Settings ->
Select "IP Settings"
Verify "Automatic"

To see what your Xbox thinks about your NAT try the "Live Connection Test"
System -> Network Settings -> "Test Xbox LIVE Connection"

Easy DD-WRT wireless bridge

So this is me connecting to a dd-wrt on the other side of the room - no wires


First you have to be able to connect to both routers on different ip's on the same subnet via wired connection.

primary gateway - 192.168.1.1
remote client bridge - 192.168.1.2

If you're all set up and rocking it with your primary gateway on 192.168.1.1 - but you need to add this new device which defaults to the same ip into the mix....
Just log into your current device and change it's ip to .3 - then plug in the new router, navigate to it on .1 - change it .2 - go back to the original on .3 and put it back on .1

You *may* want to go ahead and disable DHCP on the remote client bridge while your in there, but only if you're not going to immediately configure wireless.

Remote client bridge (192.168.1.2) wireless setup:

Step 1:
Wireless -> Basic Settings

Wireless Mode: Client Bridge
Wireless Network Name (SSID): "SSID of primary gateway / wireless AP"

click Apply

Step 2:
Wireless -> Wireless Security
configure wireless settings to match your primary gateway's wireless config

Apply changes

That's it, unplug your router and test the connection!

I *highly* recommend you START with 64bit/10 digit hex WEP. Go ahead and change your settings on the primary gateway / wireless AP if you have to. Once you have that working by all means upgrade to a higher security state. But, do your self a favor and start simple to make sure you have it working.

DD-WRT applyuser.cgi hangs

What to do if you're running into the issue with the DD-WRT admin page hanging on the applyuser.cgi script when you try to save changes.

SYMPTOM:
when you click 'apply' you get directed to the address -

http://192.168.1.1/applyuser.cgi

Which is followed by a blank white screen. Navigating back just proves your changes were not affected.

SOLUTION:
restart the browser - it's probably just a cookie with a hung up user session or something, but I couldn't find it. Other suggestions would be very welcome...

HOW TO: DD-WRT on Asus WL-500G Premium V2

Our goal is simple:


Put DD-WRT on an Asus WL-500G Premium V2

Our process is straight forward

1. establish ip connectivity to router
2. download dd-wrt firmware
   
3. download Asus WL-500G Premium V2 utilitypack
4. reboot router in 'restore' mode
5. disable windows firewall (really?! Yes, I'm afraid so)
6. install/run Firmware Restoration utility
7. browse to new firmware and click upload
   
8. wait for router to reboot automatically
9. re-enable windows firewall

Step 1:
My current router was already running on 192.168.1.1 - so I moved it to 192.168.1.2 left my pc on dhcp. I suppose you could always configure a static ip 192.168.1.??? and a subnet of 255.255.255.0 - The point is you have to be able to ping the asus on 192.168.1.1 !

Step 2:
DD-WRT download section:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv3/dd-wrt/downloads.html

stable -> dd-wrt.v24 SP1 -> Consumer -> ASUS -> WL500g-Premium ->
dd-wrt.v24_mega_generic.bin

Step 3:
GAWD ASUS SITE SUCKS! I hate javascript sometimes...

Asus download section:
http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx

Product: Wireless
Series: AP/Router
Model: WL-500gP V2

Direct WL-500gP V2 download section
Direct WL-500GP V2 Utility download

*I also found it on the included CD, just run D:\Utility\setup.exe

Step 4:

• Unplug the router
• Press and hold small black 'restore' button on back next to antenna
• Plug in router and continue to hold 'restore'
• Wait for the power 'icon' on the front to blink on/off once per second
• Release 'restore' button - power icon should continue to blink

Success:
You should still be able to ping the router on 192.168.1.1 while it is in this mode.

Step 5:

Disable Windows Firewall

You can skip this step for now, but you're going to have to do it eventually. The ASUS firmware Restoration Utility will run, but won't upload while the windows firewall is active.

Start -> Control Panel -> Windows Firewall -> Off

Step 6:

Extract the UT_WL500gPv2_4008.zip that you downloaded earlier and run the setup.exe to install the Asus WL-500G Premium V2 utilitypack

Run the Firmware Restoration Utility:
Start -> Program Files -> ASUS Utility -> WL-500gP V2 Wireless Router -> Firmware Restoration

Step 7:

Click Browse and navigate out to:
dd-wrt.v24_mega_generic.bin

Click Upload...

It kind of bugs me that it didn't ASK what ip I wanted to upload this firmware to, but I guess I think it 'knows'...

While the progress bar is pushing around you may see some blinking on the router at first, but after awhile it just sits there:

Should take about a minute for the progress bar to quit, and then you can click close.

Step 8:

Really, just sit there... for like 45-60 seconds. I know, seems like forever. Eventually the modem will reboot, and you'll get the 'AIR' light lit up and I noticed I could ping it again. While you waiting don't forget Step 9!

Step 9:

Don't forget to turn back on windows firewall!!!

DONE. Navigate back to http://192.168.1.1/ and setup the user:


You haven't really LIVED until you've ssh'd into your router:

login as: root
DD-WRT v24 mega (c) 2008 NewMedia-NET GmbH
Release: 07/27/08 (SVN revision: 10012:10013)
root@192.168.1.1's password:
==========================================================

____ ___ __ ______ _____ ____ _ _
| _ \| _ \ \ \ / / _ \_ _| __ _|___ \| || |
|| | || ||____\ \ /\ / /| |_) || | \ \ / / __) | || |_
||_| ||_||_____\ V V / | _ < | | \ V / / __/|__ _|
|___/|___/ \_/\_/ |_| \_\|_| \_/ |_____| |_|

DD-WRT v24
http://www.dd-wrt.com

==========================================================


BusyBox v1.11.1 (2008-07-27 19:56:11 CEST) built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.

root@DD-WRT:~# cat /proc/cpuinfo
system type : Broadcom BCM5354 chip rev 2
processor : 0
cpu model : BCM3302 V2.9
BogoMIPS : 239.20
wait instruction : no
microsecond timers : yes
tlb_entries : 32
extra interrupt vector : no
hardware watchpoint : no
VCED exceptions : not available
VCEI exceptions : not available
root@DD-WRT:~#

Note the superuser username. Instead of the username you created in the DD-WRT initial configuration page, you have to use 'root' as the login username - but still the same password.

ASUS WL-500g Premium V2 and DD-WRT

So I picked the ASUS WL-500g Premium because...

1. I knew it was supported by DD-WRT
2. Lots of memory (32 MB)

I think I read somewhere that it was actually a pretty good piece of hardware for this kind of thing... but it doesn't matter - it looks cool:

Not going to be needing this:



ASUS WL-500g Premium V2 default IP:
192.168.1.1

ASUS WL-500g Premium V2 default Login:
Username: admin
Password: admin

So this is what we're trying to get rid of:

OK, so now how to get DD-WRT onto this thing...

HOW TO: DD-WRT wireless bridge

Got my package from newegg today:

Two ASUS WL-500g wireless routers. I plan to load them with DD-WRT and build a stable wireless bridge.

So I'd like to create a complete guide here, as I work - more updates to follow!

Update:
HOW TO: DD-WRT on Asus WL-500G Premium V2
Easy DD-WRT wireless bridge

Best Bash Script EVER - "Just In Case"

clayg@m-net:~$ cat bin/jic
#!/bin/bash
if [ $# -eq 0 ]
then
echo "usage: jic [filename]"
exit 1
fi
if ! [ -e $1 ]
then
echo "$1 does not exist!"
exit 1
fi
ext=$(date +%y%m%d.%H%M%S)
jic=$1.$ext
cp $1 $jic
chmod -x $jic
echo "SAVED: $jic"

Credit goes to a sourpuss I used to work with by the name of Chuck Carson, who gave me the idea. Where ever you are big guy - thanks.

The script creates a backup copy of a file you are about to modify:
# jic /etc/sysconfig/iptables
would create a copy called /etc/sysconfig/iptables.YYMMDD.HHMMSS

you know... just in case

Also handy for versioning revisions to scripts you're working on - never now when you're latest hack will turn out to be a total bust.

Also - go get yourself a free shell account on http://www.arbornet.org/