I have been using an Asus rt-ax68u for a few users as an access point but it occationally has issues so I decided to "upgrade" to a GL.iNet GL-MT6000. Using the OEM firmware it works very well as an AP.
Today, I decided to install the latest "pure" OpenWRT. I followed Wi-Fi Extender/Repeater with Bridged AP over Ethernet using the LuCI method. After making the changes I can no longer access the GL-MT6000. I initially tried setting the LAN to DHCP client but when that didn't work, I tried setting a static address to LAN. Either way, I cannot bring up the device to make further configuration changes after it reboots. The device does work as a switch.
With the LAN set as a DHCP client, my main router (OPNsense) does not show the GL-MT6000 requesting an address.
I don't believe I missed any steps. Does anyone have any suggestion for what might be wrong?
The easiest way to reset to the default config is to use the reset button on the router.
With the device powered on, keep the reset button pressed for 10 seconds, wait a few minutes and then you should be able to connect using the default 192 IP.
Yes, I have reset it several times during my attempts to get it to work. I just don't know why I cannot access the LAN of the GL-MT6000 at 10.3.0.8 after either setting it to be static at that address or having my upstream router provide that address via DHCP.
When setting it statically, I have disonnected the upstream router to make sure I don't have a conflict, even though no other device has been set to that address.
For now, I have given up and re-installed the OEM firmware.
You want to use the GL-MT6000 with openwrt as a dumb ap. Clients connecting to the WiFi via the dumb ap, you would like to access your network? You would like the openwrt box to use 10.3.0.8. DHCP will come via the opnsense box.
How do you connect the openwrt device to the opnsense box?
What I mean by "LAN of the GL-MT6000" is that I am plugging the OPNsense into the GL-MT6000's switch, not its WAN port. I want everything on the same "LAN". Now, how do I access the GL-MT6000 to makes changes to the WiFi configuration?
An OPNsense router has several different subnets that it is the master of. One of the subnets (10.3.0.0) has a GL-MT6000 hooked up to it for sole purpose of providing WiFi access to that subnet.
After following the directions I found, to put OpenWRT into "AP" mode, I am no longer able to bring up the web page on OpenWRT to configure it. This includes disabling the DHCP server on the OpenWRT "LAN".
Following the directions, I have tried setting the "LAN" to a static address of 10.3.0.8. After OpenWRT reboots, I am unable to access 10.3.0.8.
I have tried setting the OpenWRT LAN to get its address via DHCP, and OPNsense is configure to return 10.3.0.8 for the OpenWRT's MAC address. Again, after rebooting OpenWRT, I am unable to access 10.3.0.8.
To make sure there is no conflict between the OPNsense and OpenWRT, I have tried disconnecting them from each other and have connected a laptop to the OpenWRT "AP" (static IP 10.3.0.8) with a patch cable. I am unable to access the OpenWRT router from the laptop.
With the gl-inet firmware installed, I just go into the "mode" configuration page and set it to "AP" mode -- and it all works perfectly. It expects to get the subnet IP address via DHCP by default and it "just works". In that configuration, the upstream (OPNsense) cable is plugged into the WAN port, which is what I prefer. It would be nice if stock OpenWRT had a similar simple way of turning on AP mode.
When I have another couple of hours to spend on it, I will try installing OpenWRT again.