I had a couple threads here asking for help setting up this router, and had issue with Wifi security (when paired the wifi endpoint to a VLAN interface). I couldn't get it to work.
So now I have some time, and want to give it another shot.
Previously, I had Wifi to work with WPA2 using AES option. WPA3 does not work at all. Yesterday, I tried again, and both WPA2 AND WPA3 do not work. I kept getting various error messages such as: "The network security key isn't correct. Please try again" or "Some information changed since the last time you connected. We need additional information to complete the connection" (after Forget network, try again, it still shows the issue), "This Wi-Fi network uses an older security standard that might not protect you".
Now, I flash the firmware back to OEM. To my surprise, the Wifi security settings I had long before, are still there right after the firmware flash. I am not sure how that works between the OpenWrt and OEM firmware. Do they share the same setting format? OpenWRT does not erase/preserve OEM setting files?
One thing that I noticed is that WPA3 security option is not available. I was curious and searched the Web, and they do not mention it either, such as:
So, if the router OEM firmware does not support WPA3, would WPA3 still be supported in OpenWRT (via software only for example)?
Are there guides for me to debug the OpenWRT code, since it's open source? Some pointers helping me getting started on this? I searched and found some mention of a guide using Eclipse IDE, but I could not find the document anywhere.
I assume that the OEM firmware stores its settings in a dedicated flash partition, which is never touched by OpenWrt (and therefore may remain 'forever', never looked at by OpenWrt, but not disappearing either - not an issue, but may cause 'surprises' when returning to an OEM firmware).
I have decided to just not try this because setting the whole system, using VLAN, Pfsense, OpenWRT are rather straight forward, and they just work without sweat. I think this router has some issue, that needs debugged and worked out. Currently, I use a router Archer AC1700 for OpenWRT and it works very well for what I need.
I hope the developers would look into getting the router (Nighthawk R8000) to work though, since they are almost there.
I also searched this forum, and found several related posts that appears to have no solution to various Wifi and VLAN set ups.
I will provide more details later if needed, but it went like this:
The TP Link AC 1700 worked very well. It uses older Switch vlan configuration. I had some weak radio issue. So I bought the Dynalink DL WRX36 and went through the installation and setup. The installation as much more involved with SSH setup and USB key. But it worked right away with the distributed architecture (not using switch, but using vlan filter in a bridge).
The way I did it is have a bridge with vlan filtering for various vlan IDs.
I then create 1 bridge for each vlan ID device generated as the result of the prior step.
Then create 1 Lan for each of the prior bridge. This uses unmanaged type (it uses the IP from PFSense device below).
Before all this, I configure all the VLAN and their corresponding firewall and DHCP servers on the PFSense, and restarted the PFSense.
Then restart the Nighthawk R8000.
I then create Wifi for each LAN network.
For the wifi, it uses "N" wireless, and also, use WPA2, force mode of SAE encryption.