OpenWrt Forum Archive

Topic: Connecting two OpenWRT routers - unstable link

The content of this topic has been archived on 31 Mar 2018. There are no obvious gaps in this topic, but there may still be some posts missing at the end.

Hello,

I'd like to connect two OpenWRT routers via cable in order to extend the range of my WiFi network. Both routers are TP-LINK TL-WR842ND, however one is 12.09 and the other one 14.07.

I have disabled DHCP on the 'slave' router and deleted the 'WAN' interface. I have configured 'LAN' of the 'master' router with static IP of 192.168.2.1 and 'LAN' of the slave router as 'static' with IP 192.168.2.2. Then I connect LAN port 1 of the slave to LAN port 4 of the master. And here is the problem: the link is unstable, it comes up and goes down again, every 3-5 seconds.

Syslog doesn't tell me much more than that the link is down and up again, but nothing about the reason. I tried different cables and different LAN ports on both routers, no change. BTW: am I supposed to use a crossover cable when connecting two routers this way? I tried and it made no difference, so I assume at least these routers support auto MDI-X?

For the few seconds that the link is up, there is actually traffic going through, at least ping.

With the level of detail you have included it's hard to identify the issue, however I have this working on CC RC2.

It sounds like you are trying to create a "Dumb AP".
https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=58313
http://wiki.openwrt.org/doc/recipes/dumbap

It is not necessary to change anything having to do with the WAN on the Dumb AP.  Actually leaving it makes it easier to revert to a "Router" if needed.  It's pretty much change the IP and disable DHCP all in one window.

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