How to connect GL-AR300M (OpenWRT) and NanoPi R2S (OpenWRT)?

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Hello everyone.

Please tell me how to connect two routers GL-AR300M-Ext (OpenWRT) + NanoPi R2S (OpenWRT) ?
NanoPi R2S is a gigabit router (single board) without WIFI https://openwrt.org/toh/friendlyarm/nanopi_r2s and GL-AR300M-Ext is a WI-FI router https://openwrt.org/toh/gl.inet/gl-ar300m that should distribute a signal (internet)

Do I understand correctly that for everything to work I should connect like this?

internet => [WLAN] NanoPI R2S [LAN] + (LAN) GL-AR300M-Ext => WI-FI

Then go to the GL-AR300M router using HTTP the browser 192.168.2.1 In the router menu Network => Interfaces => LAN change the ip address so that it does not match the ip address of NanoPi R2S ?

Will this be enough for this scheme to work?

2

It is called a bridged AP.
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/network/wifi/wifiextenders/bridgedap
The IP address of the AP should be in the same network (192.168.1.X/24) as the main router but a different value of the last byte than the main router. For example leaving the NanoPi LAN at its default of 192.168.1.1, use 192.168.1.2 for the AR300M.

2 Likes
3

Thank you very much for your answer.

I was also looking for an answer to my simple question, but won't it work automatically if I connect it like this:

internet provider cable => [WAN PORT]-NanoPi R2S-[LAN PORT] => [WAN PORT]-GL-AR300M-Ext Wireless Access Point

I made a mistake when I specified LAN instead of WAN

4

You can do that but it's not optimal. You will need to be sure the two LANs are different ranges; not both the default of 192.168.1.1

5

Thank you for your answer. I will try it soon. Why do you think the option I suggested is not optimal? The IP address can be changed in the settings, for example, change 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.100.1 ..

6

If you connect wan to the upstream LAN, the GL will be unnecessarily NATing the wifi users. If everything is bridged into the same LAN there is only one stage of NAT and routing, which happens in the main router with its much faster CPU.

7

Thank you for your answer.

Can you explain your and my example in practice, what is the difference from the point of view of everyday use? What will I have or not have?

My option is GL-AR300M-Ext -> Wireless Access Point and I do all the settings in -NanoPi R2S.

I can connect my phone or TV or other devices to GL-AR300M-Ext etc.