Setting up Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless Router with BSNL Dataone

The modem I have is Huawei SmartAX MT880 [hereafter called Modem].
My wireless router is Linksys WRT54G2 Ver 1 [hereafter called WRT or Router]

The procedure should be more or less similar with other models of WRT54G and BSNL modems.

In this setup the Linksys WRT54G2 will be our Gateway/Router. All wired/wireless computers will be connected to it.
The Modem will just act like a modem[bridge], with WRT doing the PPPOE[ADSL] dialing and connection. Once connected the Internet IP will be assigned to the WRT and not modem or computers.

There are several articles in the internet which uses the Modem as the Gateway/Router and the WRT as a wireless switch. This is not the recommended way.

Note: You NEED your dataone Username and password for the rest of the procedure. If you dont have, try the method described in the next section or call BSNL. Also a basic knowledge of networking is required.

So Lets begin,

As of now, the WRT is not connected to anywhere and unplugged. Your modem is connected directly to your computer and you have a working internet connection.

1. Setup the Modem in Bridge mode.
Skip steps 1 & 2, if you use a dialer in your computer to connect to internet every time. In this case your modem is already in Bridge mode.

• Log into the WebAdmin of the Modem, by typing 192.168.1.1 in a browser, with username ‘admin‘ and password ‘admin‘
• In the sidebar, Click Home > DHCP and check whether you are using DHCP
• Click on WAN Setting.
• [Use a password unmasker like this and note down your dataone username and password, incase you dont know them].
• Set the WAN Type to RFC2684Bridged and let the Connection Type remain at Pure Bridged.
• Click on Apply.
• The modem will now reboot
• If not, click Save and Restart from Tools > System Settings on sidebar
• Wait till it reboots.

2. Verify the connection in Bridge mode

• Create a PPPOE dialer from Control Panel > Network Connections > New Connection. Click here for more detailed instructions.
• Try connecting using it.
• If you get connected, things are fine. Else revisit the previous steps.
• Turn off the modem.

3. Setup the WRT

• Disconnect the cable from the modem to the computer and connect it to the WAN/Internet port of the WRT.
• Connect another cable from your computer to any of the WRT’s 4 LAN ports and switch on WRT
• Log into the WebAdmin of the WRT, by typing 192.168.1.1 with username ” and password ‘admin‘
• In the Setup > Basic Setup, change the Internet Connection Type to PPPoE.
• Set the Username and Password of your dataone connection.
• Set the connection to KeepAlive, with a Redial Period of 30 sec.
• Leave MTU at Auto
• You do not have to change the Router IP. Leave it at 192.168.1.1. There is a misconception that it will cause conflict with the modem’s IP, but it doesnt, I have had it working like this perfectly. But if you wish, it can be any private IP, I currently use 10.0.0.1.
• You can setup the DHCP settings if you were previously using it. Otherwise keep it disabled and you can set static IP’s for your computers later.
• Click Save Settings.

4. Do a Power Cycle

• Turn off [Unplug] the WRT and modem.
• Wait for about 30 seconds.
• Turn on the modem and wait till the Lan and Link lights are lit and stable.
• Turn on the router. After a few seconds, the Internet/WAN light of the router as well as additional lights on your modem should lit[or blink] to indicate a connection.

Cross your fingers and check the Status page in the WebAdmin for the status of the connection. It may take 1-2 mins for the connection to get established.

If not, Verify that you have done everything properly and repeat the powercycle.

If you see ‘Connected‘ and valid IP addresses in your Status page, you have a fully working setup
Proceed to configuring wireless.

Now, if you see ‘Connected‘ and valid IP addresses in your Status page but cannot browse internet, it may be usually a DNS issue or something. See that you have added DNS entries in your computer.
You could try the free DNS servers of OpenDNS.
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220