How to Disable ethernet permenantly

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Hi I have a scenario where I cannot access my ethernet port, and I now need to disable ethernet.

I am running Android on a RPi and it's connected via ethernet, the router I was using was a small TPLink running openwrt with a 4G USB modem.

I no longer want to use the 4G connection and would rather tether from my phone, however with ethernet connected it prefers the ethernet connect.

If I log into Luci, I can "Stop" the ethernet interface however it is running again on every boot.

Ideally, I would like to disable the ethernet interface but leave the Wi-Fi AP running so I can still connect and manage the device if I ever decide to revert these changes.

Thanks

2

Remove the lan ports from br-lan?
So just use bridge_empty

3

Thanks, Will this drop the link on the ethernet port so that the PI and Android does not see a link at all. Take the interface down completely?

4

I hope so.

5

You have a few options

  1. Add the entry ip link set $IFACE down to /etc/rc.local.
  2. Remove it from br-lan:
  • Network ► Interfaces ► General device options ► Bridge ports ► deselect the appropriate interface to remove.
  1. Set the metric to something like 100 using ip route, which the OS will calculate as more expensive and prefer another interface with a lower value.
6

Thanks, I like option 1.

Question, will I still be able to access the device via wifi, I believe it is still in the same bridge as the ethernet port so I would imagine so.

7

Ethernet is a separate physical device from WiFi, so yes should be able to unless some type of real bridging was done. Then you must perform option 2. Can you post the ip link show and /etc/config/network output?

8

I can but will have to wait as I can only post this when my car is on, its a android head unit in my car.

9

remove the ethernet network driver?

10

I do hope you have serial console access as a backup admin method because disabling ethernet will leave you bricked and SOL, if WiFi dies. Grab a cop of Finix on usb BEFORE making changes just in case.