Error: network device not present -on wg interface

dairymilkbatman1 · February 2, 2026, 1:19pm

Lost internet after successfully reconfiguring the WPS button to toggle wifi on and off via cli. Did not touch anything else. Only thing I noticed was the belkin rt3200 crashed when I was running commands trying to find the wps button ID (following openwrt docs).

I also uninstalled talescale while doing this -if that is pertinent.
Then I noticed the below error on the wireguard interface.

Problem: on wg interface
Error: network device not present

What I did:
Fresh install - but did not work.

uci show

root@OpenWrt:~# uci show
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0]=dnsmasq
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].domainneeded='1'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].boguspriv='1'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].filterwin2k='0'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].localise_queries='1'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].rebind_protection='1'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].rebind_localhost='1'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].local='/lan/'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].domain='lan'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].expandhosts='1'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].nonegcache='0'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].cachesize='1000'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].authoritative='1'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].readethers='1'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].leasefile='/tmp/dhcp.leases'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].resolvfile='/tmp/resolv.conf.d/resolv.conf.auto'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].nonwildcard='1'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].localservice='1'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].ednspacket_max='1232'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].filter_aaaa='0'
dhcp.@dnsmasq[0].filter_a='0'
dhcp.lan=dhcp
dhcp.lan.interface='lan'
dhcp.lan.start='100'
dhcp.lan.limit='150'
dhcp.lan.leasetime='12h'
dhcp.lan.dhcpv4='server'
dhcp.lan.dhcpv6='server'
dhcp.lan.ra='server'
dhcp.lan.ra_slaac='1'
dhcp.lan.ra_flags='managed-config' 'other-config'
dhcp.wan=dhcp
dhcp.wan.interface='wan'
dhcp.wan.ignore='1'
dhcp.odhcpd=odhcpd
dhcp.odhcpd.maindhcp='0'
dhcp.odhcpd.leasefile='/tmp/hosts/odhcpd'
dhcp.odhcpd.leasetrigger='/usr/sbin/odhcpd-update'
dhcp.odhcpd.loglevel='4'
dhcp.odhcpd.piofolder='/tmp/odhcpd-piofolder'
dropbear.main=dropbear
dropbear.main.enable='1'
dropbear.main.PasswordAuth='on'
dropbear.main.RootPasswordAuth='on'
dropbear.main.Port='22'
firewall.@defaults[0]=defaults
firewall.@defaults[0].syn_flood='1'
firewall.@defaults[0].input='REJECT'
firewall.@defaults[0].output='ACCEPT'
firewall.@defaults[0].forward='REJECT'
firewall.@zone[0]=zone
firewall.@zone[0].name='lan'
firewall.@zone[0].network='lan'
firewall.@zone[0].input='ACCEPT'
firewall.@zone[0].output='ACCEPT'
firewall.@zone[0].forward='ACCEPT'
firewall.@zone[1]=zone
firewall.@zone[1].name='wan'
firewall.@zone[1].network='wan' 'wan6'
firewall.@zone[1].input='REJECT'
firewall.@zone[1].output='ACCEPT'
firewall.@zone[1].forward='REJECT'
firewall.@zone[1].masq='1'
firewall.@zone[1].mtu_fix='1'
firewall.@forwarding[0]=forwarding
firewall.@forwarding[0].src='lan'
firewall.@forwarding[0].dest='wan'
firewall.@rule[0]=rule
firewall.@rule[0].name='Allow-DHCP-Renew'
firewall.@rule[0].src='wan'
firewall.@rule[0].proto='udp'
firewall.@rule[0].dest_port='68'
firewall.@rule[0].target='ACCEPT'
firewall.@rule[0].family='ipv4'
firewall.@rule[1]=rule
firewall.@rule[1].name='Allow-Ping'
firewall.@rule[1].src='wan'
firewall.@rule[1].proto='icmp'
firewall.@rule[1].icmp_type='echo-request'
firewall.@rule[1].family='ipv4'
firewall.@rule[1].target='ACCEPT'
firewall.@rule[2]=rule
firewall.@rule[2].name='Allow-IGMP'
firewall.@rule[2].src='wan'
firewall.@rule[2].proto='igmp'
firewall.@rule[2].family='ipv4'
firewall.@rule[2].target='ACCEPT'
firewall.@rule[3]=rule
firewall.@rule[3].name='Allow-DHCPv6'
firewall.@rule[3].src='wan'
firewall.@rule[3].proto='udp'
firewall.@rule[3].dest_port='546'
firewall.@rule[3].family='ipv6'
firewall.@rule[3].target='ACCEPT'
firewall.@rule[4]=rule
firewall.@rule[4].name='Allow-MLD'
firewall.@rule[4].src='wan'
firewall.@rule[4].proto='icmp'
firewall.@rule[4].src_ip='fe80::/10'
firewall.@rule[4].icmp_type='130/0' '131/0' '132/0' '143/0'
firewall.@rule[4].family='ipv6'
firewall.@rule[4].target='ACCEPT'
firewall.@rule[5]=rule
firewall.@rule[5].name='Allow-ICMPv6-Input'
firewall.@rule[5].src='wan'
firewall.@rule[5].proto='icmp'
firewall.@rule[5].icmp_type='echo-request' 'echo-reply' 'destination-unreachable' 'packet-too-big' 'time-exceeded' 'bad-header' 'unknown-header-type' 'router-solicitation' 'neighbour-solicitation' 'router-advertisement' 'neighbour-advertisement'
firewall.@rule[5].limit='1000/sec'
firewall.@rule[5].family='ipv6'
firewall.@rule[5].target='ACCEPT'
firewall.@rule[6]=rule
firewall.@rule[6].name='Allow-ICMPv6-Forward'
firewall.@rule[6].src='wan'
firewall.@rule[6].dest='*'
firewall.@rule[6].proto='icmp'
firewall.@rule[6].icmp_type='echo-request' 'echo-reply' 'destination-unreachable' 'packet-too-big' 'time-exceeded' 'bad-header' 'unknown-header-type'
firewall.@rule[6].limit='1000/sec'
firewall.@rule[6].family='ipv6'
firewall.@rule[6].target='ACCEPT'
firewall.@rule[7]=rule
firewall.@rule[7].name='Allow-IPSec-ESP'
firewall.@rule[7].src='wan'
firewall.@rule[7].dest='lan'
firewall.@rule[7].proto='esp'
firewall.@rule[7].target='ACCEPT'
firewall.@rule[8]=rule
firewall.@rule[8].name='Allow-ISAKMP'
firewall.@rule[8].src='wan'
firewall.@rule[8].dest='lan'
firewall.@rule[8].dest_port='500'
firewall.@rule[8].proto='udp'
firewall.@rule[8].target='ACCEPT'
luci.main=core
luci.main.lang='auto'
luci.main.mediaurlbase='/luci-static/bootstrap'
luci.main.resourcebase='/luci-static/resources'
luci.main.ubuspath='/ubus/'
luci.flash_keep=extern
luci.flash_keep.uci='/etc/config/'
luci.flash_keep.dropbear='/etc/dropbear/'
luci.flash_keep.openvpn='/etc/openvpn/'
luci.flash_keep.passwd='/etc/passwd'
luci.flash_keep.opkg='/etc/opkg.conf'
luci.flash_keep.firewall='/etc/firewall.user'
luci.flash_keep.uploads='/lib/uci/upload/'
luci.languages=internal
luci.sauth=internal
luci.sauth.sessionpath='/tmp/luci-sessions'
luci.sauth.sessiontime='3600'
luci.ccache=internal
luci.ccache.enable='1'
luci.themes=internal
luci.themes.Bootstrap='/luci-static/bootstrap'
luci.themes.BootstrapDark='/luci-static/bootstrap-dark'
luci.themes.BootstrapLight='/luci-static/bootstrap-light'
luci.apply=internal
luci.apply.rollback='90'
luci.apply.holdoff='4'
luci.apply.timeout='5'
luci.apply.display='1.5'
luci.diag=internal
luci.diag.dns='openwrt.org'
luci.diag.ping='openwrt.org'
luci.diag.route='openwrt.org'
network.loopback=interface
network.loopback.device='lo'
network.loopback.proto='static'
network.loopback.ipaddr='127.0.0.1'
network.loopback.netmask='255.0.0.0'
network.globals=globals
network.globals.ula_prefix='fd71:e0a9:50a::/48'
network.@device[0]=device
network.@device[0].name='br-lan'
network.@device[0].type='bridge'
network.@device[0].ports='lan1' 'lan2' 'lan3' 'lan4'
network.lan=interface
network.lan.device='br-lan'
network.lan.proto='static'
network.lan.ipaddr='192.168.1.1'
network.lan.netmask='255.255.255.0'
network.lan.ip6assign='60'
network.wan=interface
network.wan.device='wan'
network.wan.proto='dhcp'
network.wan6=interface
network.wan6.device='wan'
network.wan6.proto='dhcpv6'
rpcd.@rpcd[0]=rpcd
rpcd.@rpcd[0].socket='/var/run/ubus/ubus.sock'
rpcd.@rpcd[0].timeout='30'
rpcd.@login[0]=login
rpcd.@login[0].username='root'
rpcd.@login[0].password='$p$root'
rpcd.@login[0].read='*'
rpcd.@login[0].write='*'
system.@system[0]=system
system.@system[0].hostname='OpenWrt'
system.@system[0].timezone='UTC'
system.@system[0].ttylogin='0'
system.@system[0].log_size='128'
system.@system[0].urandom_seed='0'
system.@system[0].compat_version='2.0'
system.ntp=timeserver
system.ntp.enabled='1'
system.ntp.enable_server='0'
system.ntp.server='0.openwrt.pool.ntp.org' '1.openwrt.pool.ntp.org' '2.openwrt.pool.ntp.org' '3.openwrt.pool.ntp.org'
system.led_wan=led
system.led_wan.name='WAN'
system.led_wan.sysfs='inet:blue'
system.led_wan.trigger='netdev'
system.led_wan.mode='link tx rx'
system.led_wan.dev='wan'
ubihealthd.ubi0=ubi-device
ubihealthd.ubi0.device='/dev/ubi0'
ubihealthd.ubi0.enable='1'
ubootenv.@ubootenv[0]=ubootenv
ubootenv.@ubootenv[0].dev='/dev/ubi0_2'
ubootenv.@ubootenv[0].offset='0x0'
ubootenv.@ubootenv[0].envsize='0x1f000'
ubootenv.@ubootenv[0].secsize='0x1f000'
ubootenv.@ubootenv[0].numsec='1'
ubootenv.@ubootenv[1]=ubootenv
ubootenv.@ubootenv[1].dev='/dev/ubi0_3'
ubootenv.@ubootenv[1].offset='0x0'
ubootenv.@ubootenv[1].envsize='0x1f000'
ubootenv.@ubootenv[1].secsize='0x1f000'
ubootenv.@ubootenv[1].numsec='1'
uhttpd.main=uhttpd
uhttpd.main.listen_http='0.0.0.0:80' '[::]:80'
uhttpd.main.listen_https='0.0.0.0:443' '[::]:443'
uhttpd.main.redirect_https='0'
uhttpd.main.home='/www'
uhttpd.main.rfc1918_filter='1'
uhttpd.main.max_requests='3'
uhttpd.main.max_connections='100'
uhttpd.main.cert='/etc/uhttpd.crt'
uhttpd.main.key='/etc/uhttpd.key'
uhttpd.main.cgi_prefix='/cgi-bin'
uhttpd.main.lua_prefix='/cgi-bin/luci=/usr/lib/lua/luci/sgi/uhttpd.lua'
uhttpd.main.script_timeout='60'
uhttpd.main.network_timeout='30'
uhttpd.main.http_keepalive='20'
uhttpd.main.tcp_keepalive='1'
uhttpd.main.ubus_prefix='/ubus'
uhttpd.defaults=cert
uhttpd.defaults.days='397'
uhttpd.defaults.key_type='ec'
uhttpd.defaults.bits='2048'
uhttpd.defaults.ec_curve='P-256'
uhttpd.defaults.country='ZZ'
uhttpd.defaults.state='Somewhere'
uhttpd.defaults.location='Unknown'
uhttpd.defaults.commonname='OpenWrt'
wireless.radio0=wifi-device
wireless.radio0.type='mac80211'
wireless.radio0.phy='wl0'
wireless.radio0.band='2g'
wireless.radio0.channel='1'
wireless.radio0.htmode='HT20'
wireless.default_radio0=wifi-iface
wireless.default_radio0.device='radio0'
wireless.default_radio0.network='lan'
wireless.default_radio0.mode='ap'
wireless.default_radio0.ssid='OpenWrt'
wireless.default_radio0.encryption='none'
wireless.radio1=wifi-device
wireless.radio1.type='mac80211'
wireless.radio1.phy='wl1'
wireless.radio1.band='5g'
wireless.radio1.channel='36'
wireless.radio1.htmode='HE80'
wireless.radio1.disabled='1'
wireless.default_radio1=wifi-iface
wireless.default_radio1.device='radio1'
wireless.default_radio1.network='lan'
wireless.default_radio1.mode='ap'
wireless.default_radio1.ssid='OpenWrt'
wireless.default_radio1.encryption='none'

root@OpenWrt:~# uci show | pbcopy

network

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/network

config interface 'loopback'
        option device 'lo'
        option proto 'static'
        option ipaddr '127.0.0.1'
        option netmask '255.0.0.0'

config globals 'globals'
        option ula_prefix 'fd71:e0a9:50a::/48'

config device
        option name 'br-lan'
        option type 'bridge'
        list ports 'lan1'
        list ports 'lan2'
        list ports 'lan3'
        list ports 'lan4'

config interface 'lan'
        option device 'br-lan'
        option proto 'static'
        option ipaddr '192.168.1.1'
        option netmask '255.255.255.0'
        option ip6assign '60'

config interface 'wan'
        option device 'wan'
        option proto 'dhcp'

config interface 'wan6'
        option device 'wan'
        option proto 'dhcpv6'

config

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/
dhcp        dropbear    firewall    luci        network     rpcd        system      ubihealthd  ubootenv    uhttpd      wireless
root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/firewall
config defaults
        option syn_flood        1
        option input            REJECT
        option output           ACCEPT
        option forward          REJECT
# Uncomment this line to disable ipv6 rules
#       option disable_ipv6     1

config zone
        option name             lan
        list   network          'lan'
        option input            ACCEPT
        option output           ACCEPT
        option forward          ACCEPT

config zone
        option name             wan
        list   network          'wan'
        list   network          'wan6'
        option input            REJECT
        option output           ACCEPT
        option forward          REJECT
        option masq             1
        option mtu_fix          1

config forwarding
        option src              lan
        option dest             wan

# We need to accept udp packets on port 68,
# see https://dev.openwrt.org/ticket/4108
config rule
        option name             Allow-DHCP-Renew
        option src              wan
        option proto            udp
        option dest_port        68
        option target           ACCEPT
        option family           ipv4

# Allow IPv4 ping
config rule
        option name             Allow-Ping
        option src              wan
        option proto            icmp
        option icmp_type        echo-request
        option family           ipv4
        option target           ACCEPT

config rule
        option name             Allow-IGMP
        option src              wan
        option proto            igmp
        option family           ipv4
        option target           ACCEPT

# Allow DHCPv6 replies
# see https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/issues/5066
config rule
        option name             Allow-DHCPv6
        option src              wan
        option proto            udp
        option dest_port        546
        option family           ipv6
        option target           ACCEPT

config rule
        option name             Allow-MLD
        option src              wan
        option proto            icmp
        option src_ip           fe80::/10
        list icmp_type          '130/0'
        list icmp_type          '131/0'
        list icmp_type          '132/0'
        list icmp_type          '143/0'
        option family           ipv6
        option target           ACCEPT

# Allow essential incoming IPv6 ICMP traffic
config rule
        option name             Allow-ICMPv6-Input
        option src              wan
        option proto    icmp
        list icmp_type          echo-request
        list icmp_type          echo-reply
        list icmp_type          destination-unreachable
        list icmp_type          packet-too-big
        list icmp_type          time-exceeded
        list icmp_type          bad-header
        list icmp_type          unknown-header-type
        list icmp_type          router-solicitation
        list icmp_type          neighbour-solicitation
        list icmp_type          router-advertisement
        list icmp_type          neighbour-advertisement
        option limit            1000/sec
        option family           ipv6
        option target           ACCEPT

# Allow essential forwarded IPv6 ICMP traffic
config rule
        option name             Allow-ICMPv6-Forward
        option src              wan
        option dest             *
        option proto            icmp
        list icmp_type          echo-request
        list icmp_type          echo-reply
        list icmp_type          destination-unreachable
        list icmp_type          packet-too-big
        list icmp_type          time-exceeded
        list icmp_type          bad-header
        list icmp_type          unknown-header-type
        option limit            1000/sec
        option family           ipv6
        option target           ACCEPT

config rule
        option name             Allow-IPSec-ESP
        option src              wan
        option dest             lan
        option proto            esp
        option target           ACCEPT

config rule
        option name             Allow-ISAKMP
        option src              wan
        option dest             lan
        option dest_port        500
        option proto            udp
        option target           ACCEPT


### EXAMPLE CONFIG SECTIONS
# do not allow a specific ip to access wan
#config rule
#       option src              lan
#       option src_ip   192.168.45.2
#       option dest             wan
#       option proto    tcp
#       option target   REJECT

# block a specific mac on wan
#config rule
#       option dest             wan
#       option src_mac  00:11:22:33:44:66
#       option target   REJECT

# block incoming ICMP traffic on a zone
#config rule
#       option src              lan
#       option proto    ICMP
#       option target   DROP

# port redirect port coming in on wan to lan
#config redirect
#       option src                      wan
#       option src_dport        80
#       option dest                     lan
#       option dest_ip          192.168.16.235
#       option dest_port        80
#       option proto            tcp

# port redirect of remapped ssh port (22001) on wan
#config redirect
#       option src              wan
#       option src_dport        22001
#       option dest             lan
#       option dest_port        22
#       option proto            tcp

### FULL CONFIG SECTIONS
#config rule
#       option src              lan
#       option src_ip   192.168.45.2
#       option src_mac  00:11:22:33:44:55
#       option src_port 80
#       option dest             wan
#       option dest_ip  194.25.2.129
#       option dest_port        120
#       option proto    tcp
#       option target   REJECT

#config redirect
#       option src              lan
#       option src_ip   192.168.45.2
#       option src_mac  00:11:22:33:44:55
#       option src_port         1024
#       option src_dport        80
#       option dest_ip  194.25.2.129
#       option dest_port        120
#       option proto    tcp

wireless

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/wireless

config wifi-device 'radio0'
        option type 'mac80211'
        option phy 'wl0'
        option band '2g'
        option channel '1'
        option htmode 'HT20'
        option disabled '1'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'
        option device 'radio0'
        option network 'lan'
        option mode 'ap'
        option ssid 'OpenWrt'
        option encryption 'none'
        option disabled '1'

config wifi-device 'radio1'
        option type 'mac80211'
        option phy 'wl1'
        option band '5g'
        option channel '36'
        option htmode 'HE80'
        option disabled '1'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio1'
        option device 'radio1'
        option network 'lan'
        option mode 'ap'
        option ssid 'OpenWrt'
        option encryption 'none'

I am aware that the wg interface is gone because I reformatted, but I am still not able to access the internet.
I also recreated wireguard/vpn on a fresh install and rebooted. I got the same error about the device above.

egc · February 2, 2026, 1:30pm

What is connected on the WAN side?

Is it another router, if so maybe that has the same ip subnet if so change the lan ip from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.2.1

How I setup WireGuard:
WireGuard Server Setup Guide
WireGuard Client Setup Guide

dairymilkbatman1 · February 2, 2026, 1:36pm

Wow that was blazzingly fast

I have a starlink router in bridge mode connected to my rt3200.
rt3200 was at 192.168.99.1 and starlink at 192.168.1.100

egc · February 2, 2026, 4:58pm

If your problem is solved, please consider marking this topic as [Solved]. See How to mark a topic as [Solved] for a short how-to.
Thanks!

dairymilkbatman1 · February 2, 2026, 5:04pm

I’m sorry, maybe I was clear above. My problem remains

egc · February 2, 2026, 5:15pm

Did you change your lan's IP address from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.2.1?

did you reboot starlink router and rt3200?

If that does not help please connect to your OpenWRT device using ssh and copy the output of the following commands and post it here using the "Preformatted text </> " button

Remember to redact keys, passwords, MAC addresses and any public IP addresses you may have but do not redact private RFC 1918 IP addresses as that is not needed:

ubus call system board
cat /etc/config/network
cat /etc/config/dhcp
cat /etc/config/firewall
ip route show
ip -6 route show

dairymilkbatman1 · February 2, 2026, 6:08pm

The router should be stock because I nuked it, and I also nuked the starlink router -it was 2am, I was pissed, everything was getting fresh installs.

What disturbs me about this issue is that I didn’t touch anything -that I can think of- that would have such an effect. I merely stuck a script in cron, and run a few commands to find the button I was repurposing, and uninstalled a package…

Here you go:

root@OpenWrt:~# ip -6 route show
fd71:e0a9:50a::/64 dev br-lan  metric 1024
unreachable fd71:e0a9:50a::/48 dev lo  metric 2147483647
fe80::/64 dev eth0  metric 256
fe80::/64 dev br-lan  metric 256
anycast fd71:e0a9:50a:: dev br-lan  metric 0
anycast fe80:: dev eth0  metric 0
anycast fe80:: dev br-lan  metric 0
multicast ff00::/8 dev eth0  metric 256
multicast ff00::/8 dev br-lan  metric 256

root@OpenWrt:~# ip route show
192.168.2.0/24 dev br-lan scope link  src 192.168.2.1

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/firewall
config defaults
        option syn_flood        1
        option input            REJECT
        option output           ACCEPT
        option forward          REJECT
# Uncomment this line to disable ipv6 rules
#       option disable_ipv6     1

config zone
        option name             lan
        list   network          'lan'
        option input            ACCEPT
        option output           ACCEPT
        option forward          ACCEPT

config zone
        option name             wan
        list   network          'wan'
        list   network          'wan6'
        option input            REJECT
        option output           ACCEPT
        option forward          REJECT
        option masq             1
        option mtu_fix          1

config forwarding
        option src              lan
        option dest             wan

# We need to accept udp packets on port 68,
# see https://dev.openwrt.org/ticket/4108
config rule
        option name             Allow-DHCP-Renew
        option src              wan
        option proto            udp
        option dest_port        68
        option target           ACCEPT
        option family           ipv4

# Allow IPv4 ping
config rule
        option name             Allow-Ping
        option src              wan
        option proto            icmp
        option icmp_type        echo-request
        option family           ipv4
        option target           ACCEPT

config rule
        option name             Allow-IGMP
        option src              wan
        option proto            igmp
        option family           ipv4
        option target           ACCEPT

# Allow DHCPv6 replies
# see https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/issues/5066
config rule
        option name             Allow-DHCPv6
        option src              wan
        option proto            udp
        option dest_port        546
        option family           ipv6
        option target           ACCEPT

config rule
        option name             Allow-MLD
        option src              wan
        option proto            icmp
        option src_ip           fe80::/10
        list icmp_type          '130/0'
        list icmp_type          '131/0'
        list icmp_type          '132/0'
        list icmp_type          '143/0'
        option family           ipv6
        option target           ACCEPT

# Allow essential incoming IPv6 ICMP traffic
config rule
        option name             Allow-ICMPv6-Input
        option src              wan
        option proto    icmp
        list icmp_type          echo-request
        list icmp_type          echo-reply
        list icmp_type          destination-unreachable
        list icmp_type          packet-too-big
        list icmp_type          time-exceeded
        list icmp_type          bad-header
        list icmp_type          unknown-header-type
        list icmp_type          router-solicitation
        list icmp_type          neighbour-solicitation
        list icmp_type          router-advertisement
        list icmp_type          neighbour-advertisement
        option limit            1000/sec
        option family           ipv6
        option target           ACCEPT

# Allow essential forwarded IPv6 ICMP traffic
config rule
        option name             Allow-ICMPv6-Forward
        option src              wan
        option dest             *
        option proto            icmp
        list icmp_type          echo-request
        list icmp_type          echo-reply
        list icmp_type          destination-unreachable
        list icmp_type          packet-too-big
        list icmp_type          time-exceeded
        list icmp_type          bad-header
        list icmp_type          unknown-header-type
        option limit            1000/sec
        option family           ipv6
        option target           ACCEPT

config rule
        option name             Allow-IPSec-ESP
        option src              wan
        option dest             lan
        option proto            esp
        option target           ACCEPT

config rule
        option name             Allow-ISAKMP
        option src              wan
        option dest             lan
        option dest_port        500
        option proto            udp
        option target           ACCEPT


### EXAMPLE CONFIG SECTIONS
# do not allow a specific ip to access wan
#config rule
#       option src              lan
#       option src_ip   192.168.45.2
#       option dest             wan
#       option proto    tcp
#       option target   REJECT

# block a specific mac on wan
#config rule
#       option dest             wan
#       option src_mac  00:11:22:33:44:66
#       option target   REJECT

# block incoming ICMP traffic on a zone
#config rule
#       option src              lan
#       option proto    ICMP
#       option target   DROP

# port redirect port coming in on wan to lan
#config redirect
#       option src                      wan
#       option src_dport        80
#       option dest                     lan
#       option dest_ip          192.168.16.235
#       option dest_port        80
#       option proto            tcp

# port redirect of remapped ssh port (22001) on wan
#config redirect
#       option src              wan
#       option src_dport        22001
#       option dest             lan
#       option dest_port        22
#       option proto            tcp

### FULL CONFIG SECTIONS
#config rule
#       option src              lan
#       option src_ip   192.168.45.2
#       option src_mac  00:11:22:33:44:55
#       option src_port 80
#       option dest             wan
#       option dest_ip  194.25.2.129
#       option dest_port        120
#       option proto    tcp
#       option target   REJECT

#config redirect
#       option src              lan
#       option src_ip   192.168.45.2
#       option src_mac  00:11:22:33:44:55
#       option src_port         1024
#       option src_dport        80
#       option dest_ip  194.25.2.129
#       option dest_port        120
#       option proto    tcp

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/dhcp

config dnsmasq
        option domainneeded '1'
        option boguspriv '1'
        option filterwin2k '0'
        option localise_queries '1'
        option rebind_protection '1'
        option rebind_localhost '1'
        option local '/lan/'
        option domain 'lan'
        option expandhosts '1'
        option nonegcache '0'
        option cachesize '1000'
        option authoritative '1'
        option readethers '1'
        option leasefile '/tmp/dhcp.leases'
        option resolvfile '/tmp/resolv.conf.d/resolv.conf.auto'
        option nonwildcard '1'
        option localservice '1'
        option ednspacket_max '1232'
        option filter_aaaa '0'
        option filter_a '0'

config dhcp 'lan'
        option interface 'lan'
        option start '100'
        option limit '150'
        option leasetime '12h'
        option dhcpv4 'server'
        option dhcpv6 'server'
        option ra 'server'
        list ra_flags 'managed-config'
        list ra_flags 'other-config'

config dhcp 'wan'
        option interface 'wan'
        option ignore '1'

config odhcpd 'odhcpd'
        option maindhcp '0'
        option leasefile '/tmp/hosts/odhcpd'
        option leasetrigger '/usr/sbin/odhcpd-update'
        option loglevel '4'
        option piofolder '/tmp/odhcpd-piofolder'

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/network

config interface 'loopback'
        option device 'lo'
        option proto 'static'
        option ipaddr '127.0.0.1'
        option netmask '255.0.0.0'

config globals 'globals'
        option ula_prefix 'fd71:e0a9:50a::/48'
        option packet_steering '1'

config device
        option name 'br-lan'
        option type 'bridge'
        list ports 'lan1'
        list ports 'lan2'
        list ports 'lan3'
        list ports 'lan4'

config interface 'lan'
        option device 'br-lan'
        option proto 'static'
        option ipaddr '192.168.2.1'
        option netmask '255.255.255.0'
        option ip6assign '60'

config interface 'wan'
        option device 'wan'
        option proto 'dhcp'

config interface 'wan6'
        option device 'wan'
        option proto 'dhcpv6'

root@OpenWrt:~# ubus call system board
{
        "kernel": "6.6.119",
        "hostname": "OpenWrt",
        "system": "ARMv8 Processor rev 4",
        "model": "Linksys E8450 (UBI)",
        "board_name": "linksys,e8450-ubi",
        "rootfs_type": "squashfs",
        "release": {
                "distribution": "OpenWrt",
                "version": "24.10.5",
                "revision": "r29087-d9c5716d1d",
                "target": "mediatek/mt7622",
                "description": "OpenWrt 24.10.5 r29087-d9c5716d1d",
                "builddate": "1766005702"
        }
}

lleachii · February 2, 2026, 6:16pm

To be clear, is your issue is with Wireguard, or something else?

egc · February 2, 2026, 6:26pm

You do not have a working wan.
Connect your PC directly to the starlink router and see if that gets an IP address and working internet

dairymilkbatman1 · February 2, 2026, 6:26pm

Sorry guys,

The problem was, no internet connection, and I noticed that the wg interface reported the error notice.

I poked around, 2am, gave up, reinstalled openwrt.

Problem remains, even after the reinstall

So at present, I have a fresh install with no configs at all and I still have no working wan.

dairymilkbatman1 · February 2, 2026, 6:27pm

Yep, that’s the config I am using now to write this

psherman · February 2, 2026, 6:30pm

Two important questions:

Is there a physical connection to the wan port? If so, where does it go? (i.e. what is the upstream connection that it makes?)
Did you reinstall wireguard when you reset/reflashed your router? (or, was it included in a custom built image?)

dairymilkbatman1 · February 2, 2026, 6:41pm

The WAN port on the openwrt was connected to the starlink router(in bridge mode) with ethernet cable.
I am currently connect directly to starlink via this cable however.

oooo, didn’t think of that, but alas. Fresh install, with nothing but the stock preinstalled software.

Just a hunch, is it possible to do hardware damage with a command? because it did hang, then crash when I ran a command whilst looking for devices, and push button events. This was when things were working and I was repurposing the WPS button.

psherman · February 2, 2026, 6:45pm

So, it sounds like it's not connected currently. Obviously that isn't going to work.

You'll need to connect your OpenWrt router's wan to an upstream if you want to make progress on solving the issue.

Yes, wireguard is not included in the 'default' build. You can create custom images that include whatever packages you want/need (including wireguard, of course). But obviously if the package is not present, you'll get a network device not present error.

No. I mean, there was an old mostly-myth of "halt and catch fire" for the early days of personal computers (which became the title of a TV series), but it's essentially impossible to damage hardware of this type with anything you would do via a command.

Changes in behavior and/or crashes are not the same as hardware damage.

dairymilkbatman1 · February 3, 2026, 7:01am

Thanks for the clarification.

4am I started messing with this again, when I logged in it returned the following type error. This gave me a torch for finding the needle. I believe I have solved the problem, pending testing. Also got my wps button script working

TypeError

Cannot read properties of null (reading 'wifi')

Now to set up my vpn again.

dairymilkbatman1 · February 3, 2026, 7:04am

Turns out I have been following you on github

one question regarding downloading your pbr-to-vpn script: I take it I can set up wireguard (as per your server instructions) and simply disable “route allowed ip’s”?

-edit
also, is pbr required to be installed with this script?

egc · February 3, 2026, 8:07am

The script is for Policy Based Routing in combination with a VPN Client e.g. a WireGuard client:
WireGuard Client Setup Guide

If you want to only route a specific interface or specific lan clients by its IP address via the WireGuard client then you have several options:
Using the full PBR app: https://docs.openwrt.melmac.ca/pbr/1.2.1/
Using the manual method with netifd see: OpenWRT Policy Based Routing (PBR)
Use the pbr-to-vpn script: https://github.com/egc112/OpenWRT-egc-add-on/tree/main/pbr-via-vpn

For simple things the pbr-to-vpn script is enough.
About your question, to stop default routing via the WireGuard client you indeed need to Disable Route Allowed IPs, that way only the interface or IP addresses you set in the script are routed via the WireGuard client.

P.S. How did you solve your problem? That is good to know for other users