This article continues an overview of the functionality provided by the DD-WRT OpenSource router firmware. The previous article can be found at: DD-WRT Firmware on the Asus RT-N16 Router – Part 5, NAT – QoS.
The previous article dealt with the different NAT – QoS options available, whereas this article will detail the Administration configuration options available.
The goal is to understand the different options provided by the DD-WRT OpenSource router firmware and compare it with the firmware provided by Asus when you purchase the RT-N16 device. Also, another popular OpenSource router firmware distribution from the Tomato Firmware group will be reviewed.
Administration – Router Management
Basic router configuration options are included on this screen including the router username and password, language selection and router GUI style.
Administration – Keep Alive
There may be times that you need to reboot your router on a periodic basis to clear memory and to improve the flow of either broadband data to the WAN and/or wireless data within your WiFi network.
You have the option to schedule a periodic router reboot on this screen. Note though that you must have the Cron option enabled on the previous Administration Management screen. Cron is a job scheduler built in to the firmware which allows periodic jobs to be executed at certain times of the day.
The Proxy/Connection Watchdog and WDS/Connection Watchdog are options for you to specify loss-of-connection options for when your router should reboot instead of a specified time.
The Proxy-Connection option allows you to enter a proxy that the router should check the connection against. If it cannot connect then the router automatically reboots itself.
The WDS-Connection option allows you to specify remote IP addresses that the router should check connection with. Again, the router reboots itself if a connection cannot be established. Note, these need to be IP addresses and not domain names.
Administration – Diagnostics
The DD-WRT is basically a Linux operating system at the core. If your router is giving you problems and you understand the relevant commands, you can enter them here using the Command Shell.
This is an advanced function.
Administration – Wake-On-LAN (WOL)
Wake-On-LAN (WOL) is a feature on most modern computers which allows you to turn off the computer to conserve energy. The computer can be sleeping, hibernating or completely powered off. However, if the computer is needed by another network device in your home it can be restarted using the WOL feature. In order for this to work the computer and network card must support WOL.
The DD-WRT firmware offers two kinds of methods to make use of WOL. The first is to allow you to access the router remotely and trigger the WOL configuration to wake up a particular computer on your home network. The second method is to schedule an automatic “wake-up” job which runs on the router.
For example, there may be a particular computer on your network which needs to do its backup procedure at 1:00 am every morning, so you want to make sure it’s awake then. The backup procedure can shutdown the computer once the backup completes.
For more information please see the Wake-on-LAN (tutorial).
Administration – Factory Defaults
This gives you the option to clear all of your custom settings and return the router back to the original factory default values. If you’re not sure this is what you want to do then make a backup of your setting values first.
Once the router resets, it will prompt you for a new username and password.
Administration – Firmware Management
Here you have the option to upgrade your firmware. Click the “Browse” button to find the firmware file on your computer and upload it. Click the “Upgrade” button to start the actual upgrade process. Do not turn off the router while it is upgrading.
Administration – Backup Configuration
It’s a good idea, especially after making new configuration changes, to keep a backup copy of your configuration setting values. If something happened to your router causing you to lose all of your settings then you would have a backup to restore and your router could be back in operation again with minimal interruption time.
Next Step
DD-WRT Firmware on the Asus RT-N16 Router – Part 7, Status
Return to the Firmware Overview: Asus RT-N16 Router Firmware Overview
