Trying to make the Unifi controller recognize APs linked through a Dd-WRT router
Trying to make the Unifi controller recognize APs linked through a Dd-WRT router
Hey guys, I'm trying to get my PC (with the Unifi controller) to connect four Unifi APs on the network. It's connected via Ethernet to a wireless extender that links into one of the APs. Everything worked before I updated the extender with DD-WRT. My thought is that some DD-WRT settings might be disabled, preventing it from recognizing other devices on the network. Since I'm in charge of this network, it's crucial for me to get these APs working. I've made a quick network map to illustrate the setup. Cheers, Damian!
Add a forwarding rule on the second router and configure it on the Netgear using DD-WRT for your PC with the Unifi controller.
Start by checking your DD-WRT setup guide. Port forwarding in DD-WRT usually involves adding a rule under the "Advanced" or "Network" section. Make sure you have the correct IP addresses and ports set. If unsure, look for tutorials specific to your model version.
This guide explains how to set up port forwarding on a DD-WRT router. The essential ports you should open are 8080, 8443, and 8880. For more details, see the list of used ports at https://help.ubnt.com/hc/en-us/articles/...Ports-Used
The problem might stem from having three routers instead of two. If the other two are in router mode, you'll likely see separate networks. You're probably using the DDWRT box as a wireless bridge, but if not, you have three layers of NAT. Good luck with port forwarding through all that.
only requires configuring port forwarding on the DD-WRT and the second router, and setting static IPs will simplify things
Initially I'm puzzled about why the original poster has two to three layers instead of using NAT. Also, if the DDWRT box is linked wirelessly to the second router, it shouldn't be in router mode, which implies either no firewall or NAT. I remember setting up a router in wireless bridge mode before, acting as my Wi-Fi adapter. The original poster might try port forwarding on the second router to test connectivity with devices on the first router. Alternatively, they could configure the network properly and replace the second router with a switch, assuming no firewall is needed between the two routers.
If DD-WRT isn't running in router mode, he should focus on port forwarding on the second router. He only requires two LAN connections to reach his computer, which suggests he likely uses two routers for internet sharing and doesn’t want to mix local traffic.
Thanks for the guides, I’ll look into them later. Now I’m wondering why the network setup is so intricate. In my area and at work with the YMCA as an IT tech, we have two buildings side by side. One building has internet through fiber optic (I think Linus covered this in a video a while ago). That connection is then passed over Ethernet to another building. The building with the fiber gets routed through a Cisco device, which is shared with two Unifi APs in the first building—the one with the fiber is the source. The Cisco router also connects to the second building’s router, which in turn links to two more Unifi APs. One of these APs uses a Netgear wireless extender running DD-WRT, while my PC connects via Ethernet to that extender.
Clearly, the easiest fix would be to link my PC directly to one of the APs using Wi-Fi, but I’m using the extender because my PC’s USB Wi-Fi card struggles under heavy loads—like when downloading game updates. This seems tied to the AMD 970 chipset. The Unifi controller could see all four APs when the router is in factory mode, but not when it’s running DD-WRT. It’s definitely complex, but I have to work with what I have since the original network gear didn’t function and I needed my own setup.