Client and Repeater Access Modes

This is an advanced topic I will do my best to dumb down. There are 2 very useful modes on with the DD-WRT firmware: Client and Repeater modes. Here is a brief description of the basic modes with the DD-WRT firmware:

AP: This is the default mode, also called Infrastructure mode. Your router acts as an central connection point, which wireless clients can connect to.

Port Forwarding (manual)

With UPnP, I do not find myself doing too many port forwards but one very useful feature is this scenario. From my office, I am behind a fairly restrictive firewall that only has certain ports open. I want to be able to listen to my music server from my office via iTunes. I use Slim Devices software as a server on a Mac Mini at my house. This runs on port 9000 on the Mac. I can't access port 9000 from my office. So, I set up a port forward from public port 8000 (which is open at my office) to private port 9000 on my Mac via the router.

Setting Up Static Leases

One of my favorite features of the DD-WRT firmware is static leases. I like to set all my computers for DHCP for ease of administration but some machines need static IP's so I know how to get to them (like printers, servers, etc). I don't want to have to configure them for static IP's so I use the router to do this for me.

Turning on Universal Plug and Play

If you have Apple computers running OS X 10.5 or later and want to be able to access them via iChat screen sharing or "Back to your Mac", or you have PC's or other devices that support UPnP, you will need to enable that feature in the router.

Turning on Remote Access

One of the first things you do with your newly configured router (after changing the default password) is to enable remote access if you want to get at it from the Internet. To do so:

1) Click on Administration and then Management:

Putting a computer in the DMZ

1) Log in to router and click on NAT/QoS and then DMZ:

Some providers allow you to use your own domain name if you have one so you can be "home.yourdomain.com" but typically you have to host your domain with them and there is usually a fee for that service.

Once you enter this information, click the Save and then Apply Settings buttons at the bottom of the page and check the DDNS Status to make sure it is updating properly.