Using the Dlink 2750u as a true Ethernet WAN router

  • Thread starter Thread starter Manoj Mathew
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I'd actually already posted on how to use the D-Link 2750u as a full fledged Ethernet WAN router, but it was a few pages deep in a Tikona thread and some users were getting the actual method mixed up with workarounds posted earlier in that thread.

The 2750u is actually capable of both adsl and Ethernet WAN routing. However the Indian firmware only enables the adsl WAN. So one needs to use the Middle East (ME) or Russian (NRU) firmware to enable the Ethernet WAN function (with the ME/Russian firmware one can use adsl, ethernet or 3g WAN). Please check the label under your router to identify the specific hardware version and apply the firmware that corresponds to it. Warning: You may brick your router if you apply the wrong firmware. Presently ME firmware is available for C1 and U1 versions. NRU firmware is available for C1. The NRU firmware has the mac cloning feature so you need not ask your provider to reset the mac lock (if mac lock is present). Here are the links

ME C1 v1.3


ME C1 latest


In the latest firmware, I'm having a problem getting my 3g dongle to work, which is why I've posted both versions. Once the firmware has been changed to the ME type, one can easily switch between versions (of the same hw type) using the software update page and one can choose which version works best for them.

ME U1

6.52 MB file on MEGA (Use 7zip/Winrar etc to extract firmware)

NRU C1


Applying the firmware

The firmware may not be accepted in the normal firmware update mode. Then you'll need to update it in the dlink crash recovery mode using a LAN cable (not wirelessly). Assign a static address on the PC for the ethernet interface in the 192.168.1.x series for eg 192.168.1.5

Switch router off, press the reset button ie insert ballpoint pen in reset hole under the router, keep holding the reset button and turn on the router. Keep holding the reset button for about 12 seconds after you power on the router. Now you'll see that the power led has turned red signifying that the router is in crash recovery mode. When you enter the address 192.168.1.1 on your PC browser, you find the upgrade firmware page. Just browse to the downloaded firmware file and flash!

After the new firmware has been flashed, your internet connection will not start working automatically, you will also need to set up the router correctly. Please do not apply any workarounds mentioned in other threads such as interface grouping, disabling DHCP etc

Instructions for setting up the C1 hw version router with ME firmware

Step 1:
Log into your router and under Advanced setup->Layer2 interface->ETH interface create an Ethernet interface with connection mode as default. Then go to Advanced setup->WAN Service and add service for eth0/LAN4.

Step2: If you have an internet connection with pppoe dialing such as pacenet, Honesty etc, in the next page, choose pppoe and put in username, password and service name in the next page. Also choose to enable NAT. In the next page move eth0 from available to selected gateway interface (if it's not already in selected) and remove ppp0 (if present) from selected, in the next page do the same for DNS and finally apply/save. Do thisonly if you have both eth0 and ppp0 appearing in the setup, else let ppp0 remain in selected.

Step2 (alt): If you have a connection such as Tikona, Reliance metro, cable internet (without pppoe dialer) etc, in the next page choose ip over ethernet, in the next page let the setting remain at Obtain an IP address automatically, in the next page check option to enable NAT, in the next page move eth0 from available to selected gateway interface (if it's not already in selected) and remove ppp0 (if present) from selected, in the next page do the same for DNS and finally apply/save. Do this only if you have both eth0 and ppp0 appearing in the setup, else let ppp0 remain in selected.

Step3: Then in advanced setup - 3g connection select primary uplink as ethernet.

Now connect your internet cable to the LAN port 4 of the router and you should be able to connect through any device connected through wifi or any of the other LAN ports. If you have a connection with a browser login such as Reliance metro or Tikona, the login page will show up only on the first device that you connect in each session. After you have logged in on any device, all other devices will have internet connectivity without going through the login page.

Instructions for setting up the U1 hw version router

In Internet setup, set WAN access type to Ethernet and in protocol, choose dynamic ip for connection such as Tikona, Reliance metro, cable broadband (without pppoe dialer) etc and choose pppoe if you have a pppoe dialer based connection such as pacenet, honesty net solutions etc. When setting up the internet connection, vlan id must not be given any value other than 0.

Instructions for setting up the C1 hw version router with NRU firmware (Port 1 is WAN port)

After you flash the interface will appear in Russian. Click on the rightmost dropdown at the top of the page and choose English to change the interface language.

Click on Advanced Settings at the bottom
Click on Interface Grouping in the Advanced section. Right click on the LAN icon on the right and click on setup speed and stream. There's some quirk in the interface and it's a little tricky getting this click right. Set duplex and speed to auto and save. Again hover mouse over LAN graphic and click on Make WAN. With the default option of 'Single service...' click save. Go back to the advanced settings screen. In the Net section click on WAN and add a connection. Choose connection type accordingly and choose LAN as the interface. Change MAC if required (if provider uses mac lock), (mac cloning doesn't seem to work) put in other details as needed (make sure NAT stays enabled) and click save. Internet cable goes into port 1 and not port 4 as in the case of the ME firmware
If your provider uses a mac id lock, plug in the internet cable in port 4 (port 1 for Russian fw) after completing the setup and ask him to register the new mac in his database.
Any users seeking help on this thread, please provide all relevant details (provider, type of connection) and screenshots (info and setup). Also please make absolutely sure that it's not a mac lock issue, as many users are needlessly seeking help on the forum without having got a proper mac reset from their provider.
 
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The last digit is changed for the Ethernet WAN port and is not kept the same as the LAN port. In my case it's incremented by 2, if c4 is the last octet for my LAN the WAN port is given c6. Did you really make a direct Ethernet connection from PC to WAN port (after setting up Ethernet interface for static wan) and check, or did you ping normally (connected to wifi or LAN), when the ping will be returned from the LAN interface?
Anyway increment last digit by 2 and submit to the ISP and check.
 
Its getting confusing.. I didn't understand:
Did you really make a direct Ethernet connection from PC to WAN port (after setting up Ethernet interface for static wan) and check, or did you ping normally (connected to wifi or LAN), when the ping will be returned from the LAN port?
I just connected the LAN cable to LAN port 4 and the other end of the cable to my laptop's ethernet port, and then pinged on static IP (192.168.1.10) from my laptop. This static IP must also appear in the screenshot that I sent to you.
In my case, BSSID is incremented by 1, the general MAC address has last 2 digits 61 (the one that is greyed out in screenshot, as well as the one that I saw on the backside of router and the one that I got through ping and arp -a), whereas BSSID under Wireless > Basic has last 2 digits 62. No where else can I find any other MAC address.
I am not willing to again call up ISP on this, as they normally mess up things and I am even unable to connect via my laptop for an hour or so. Then I have to again call them, file a complaint and tell them that I asked you guys to add an extra MAC address, why did you even delete my laptop's MAC address. and then they register the complaint and re add all MAC addresses.
Can't I just clone the MAC? I mean why is it so difficult to just find out the ethernet WAN port's MAC address, and if it is so, can't I just change the MAC address and make it set to my laptop's MAC address as it is already allowed by my ISP.
Thanks again :)
 
The cloning option is only available in the Russian fw, why don't you try that? As I said before, you can skip the step for speed and duplex setting. In fact when you setup the connection, you will see the default ethernet WAN mac too, which I'm pretty sure will be LAN+2 for the last digit. After setting up the connection, if it doesn't work, reboot router and check (reminder again: internet cable in port 1 not 4).
 
Hi, yes I have planned to install the russian firmware later this evening once I am back home from office,

Will keep you posted on my progress.

Thanks
 
To start with, thanks a lot Manoj for posting this guide. It has been extremely useful in helping me get things set up.
I do have a question though. I've got the U1 version and I'm running the ME U1 firmware. Is there a way to change the PPPOE service name? I've got Honesty Net Solutions and they said I should be using HNSPPPOE as the service name. Right now, I can't find a way to change the service name from the default (pppoe_0_1) but the internet is working just fine anyway.
Do you know of a way to change this or does it not matter in the long run if the internet is working fine right now?
 
pppoe_0_1 is not the service name, it's just the name tag for the connection. The service name can be put in or changed by editing the WAN service you've set up.
Edit: Sorry, I just checked the pics for the U1 version fw, pppoe_0_1 is the default service name that comes up, you need to change it to HNSPPPOE. I think you should be able to edit it, if not then delete it and set it up again with the correct service name when you choose protocol.
 


There is no option to specify the service name when you set up a new connection (through the wizard). And when I try to edit an existing one, I'm unable to change that service name field.
 
A u1 user had sent this pic which comes up when selecting protocol

If you don't have the same screens (a similar screen with pppoe settings and editable service name should come up when you choose pppoe) please post the screen captures of all the setup screens when setting up the connection
 
I have the same screen and it expands further when I select PPPOE. However, when I try to edit the service name field, it doesn't edit for some strange reason (but I can select the characters as shown in the screen). I thought it was a browser issue but I've tried this on chrome as well as IE and the same thing happens.

Update - tried this wired and over wireless, same thing happens both ways
 

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