Install unmanaged switch, split traffic multiple cpe modem

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Hello, I have an openwrt using Android TV box that has USB to LAN. So it has one LAN port here from this dongle. I use this LAN port to connect to my modem. Its detected as eth1.

Now I wanted to connect another modem to do a split traffic using multiple cpe modem. Since there is only one port to use, I decided to purchase unmanaged switch. For the splitting program I'm using openclash, it needs to know interface name such as eth1.

I connect the unmanaged switch to that USB to LAN port using the first port in the switch. Then I connect my previous modem in the second port on the switch.

With this, I can use internet as usual. My previous modem also detected as ETH1.

Now I connect my second modem to the third port in the switch. Then nothing changed. There is no new devices detected or am I just misunderstanding something? How do I use multiple modem?

ps: I cannot access this forum or any other openwrt.org websites using my modem through openwrt device. could be my isp or my proxy or maybe something else.

2

please post the output of ubus call system board.

3 
{
	"kernel": "5.10.138-ophub",
	"hostname": "ROOter",
	"system": "ARMv8 Processor rev 4",
	"model": "Amlogic Meson GXL (S905X) P212 Development Board",
	"board_name": "amlogic,p212",
	"release": {
		"distribution": "OpenWrt",
		"version": "21.02-SNAPSHOT",
		"revision": " ",
		"codename": "",
		"target": "armvirt/64",
		"description": "GoldenOrb_2022-08-26_Radenku.com"
	}
}
4

It appears you are using firmware that is not from the official OpenWrt project.

When using forks/offshoots/vendor-specific builds that are "based on OpenWrt", there may be many differences compared to the official versions (hosted by OpenWrt.org). Some of these customizations may fundamentally change the way that OpenWrt works. You might need help from people with specific/specialized knowledge about the firmware you are using, so it is possible that advice you get here may not be useful.

You may find that the best options are:

  1. Install an official version of OpenWrt, if your device is supported (see https://firmware-selector.openwrt.org).
  2. Ask for help from the maintainer(s) or user community of the specific firmware that you are using.
  3. Provide the source code for the firmware so that users on this forum can understand how your firmware works (OpenWrt forum users are volunteers, so somebody might look at the code if they have time and are interested in your issue).

If you believe that this specific issue is common to generic/official OpenWrt and/or the maintainers of your build have indicated as such, please feel free to clarify.

5

if I were to use official openwrt and do what I mentioned above. what would be the expected behavior?

6

You can't, AFAIK, S905X isn't a supported target here.

Whatever we advise you, might be completely wrong, since it's not Openwrt you're running.

7

I mean like, if i'm not using my device. and instead uses devices that openwrt support, and also uses official openwrt firmware. what is the expected behavior?

let's forget split traffic for a bit.

If I were to use device supported by openwrt with firmware that is officially provided by openwrt. how would I use multiple cpe modem (connected using ethernet) at the same time?

for now its fine if it doesnt work exactly, i just need general direction. perhaps i might purchase new hardware. I plan on getting Nanopi R5S if my current device not good enough

8

If you're talking about multiple wan connections, you'd use a package called mwan3 to manage them. Any device (ideally with multiple ethernet ports) that is fully supported by official OpenWrt can theoretically run this package. Your current device won't be able to run the package from the official repo, but if the vendor/maintainer has a similar package, you can ask them about getting it up and running.

9

I do have access to mwan package. But that's not the problem. I already have package to do my split traffic. From what I know mwan is for load balancing, but not split traffic.

My problem is that:

  • I have 2 modem I want to connect through ethernet.
  • But I only have 1 ethernet port available.
  • So what I do is I purchase unmanaged switch, and connect my modem through there.
  • To do split traffic, each modem should have different interface name, for example one is eth1, the other is eth2.
  • But using this unmanaged switch, it only detect eth1.

I don't know what this eth1 mean. Is it my first modem? my second modem? or my switch? However it still pulling out internet. But if it's only detected as one interface then I can't do my split traffic.

I managed to get my split traffic working by using this openwrt device's wifi to connect to second modem instead. One is eth1 one is wlan0. But that also meant I can't use wifi on this device for anything else.

10

Conventionally this is done with a managed switch and VLANs, so that the two modems are in completely separate networks. Linux routing is based on sending traffic to a network interface. Anything you try to do by using different gateway IPs within the same network will be unconventional at best.

Spend the few dollars more for a managed switch it will give you more options. USB to Ethernet adapters do support VLANs the same as built-in ports. You would have for example eth0.1 and eth0.2, which form tagged packets on the single cable from the adapter. Then the managed switch separates the packets to two separate physical ports (untagged) based on their tag number.

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