This article continues an overview of the functionality provided by the Tomato OpenSource router firmware. The previous article can be found at: Tomato Firmware on the Asus RT-N16 Router – Part 2, Tools.
The previous article dealt with the different Tools options available, whereas this article will detail the Basic configuration options available.
The goal is to understand the different options provided by the Tomato 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 DD-WRT group has been reviewed.
Basic – Network
Basic network configuration options include those for WAN/Internet, LAN, DHCP Server and Wireless settings. Note the simple checkbox for Enable Wireless which is presently unselected.
Basic – Router Identification
Router Name, Hostname and Domain Name options can be changed on this screen.
Basic – Time
This screen allows you to specify your time zone and whether to adjust for daylight savings time. Another option is available to automatically update the router’s time using a specified NTP Time Server.
Basic – Dynamic DNS (DDNS)
Most home connections to the Internet are not provided a static IP address by their Internet Service Provider (ISP) unless they are paying extra for one. As a result, being able to connect remotely to your home network is difficult as the IP address for your home could be different every time.
DDNS gives you an option to have your router sync your current IP address assigned by your ISP to an online service of your own choice. The ones available can be seen in the drop-down box next to Service. Some of these services are free, many are not, but are relatively inexpensive.
The online services simply provide a way to automatically assign this changing IP address to a domain name, which you can then use to connect remotely into your home network.
Basic – Static DHCP
Normally, most network devices in your home will be automatically assigned an IP address each time they connect. The address assigned may or may not be the same one each time. This automatic IP assignment is provided by the DHCP Server running on your router. For most network devices this process works fine – unless of course, you need the same IP address every time you connect.
The Static DHCP configuration option gives you the option to specify a permanent IP address for a specific network device using the MAC address of that device.
A good example of this would be a printer you connect with over your home network, shared by multiple computers. If the IP address was allowed to keep changing, you would always be updating your printer driver properties.
Basic – Wireless Client Filter
This has a simple option to keep specific network devices from connecting to your home WiFi network. It requires you to know the MAC address of the device, which typically you can get if they’ve already connected.
Next Step
Tomato Firmware on the Asus RT-N16 Router – Part 4, Advanced Configuration Options
Return to the Firmware Overview: Asus RT-N16 Router Firmware Overview
