OpenWrt Router Setup Guide Options

OpenWrt Router Setup Guide Options | Generated by AI

Home 2026.03

Important: Since the router runs OpenWrt, you have two configuration options:

Option 1: Router as Simple Client (Recommended)

Keep OpenWrt’s br-lan as is (bridge of LAN ports + WiFi). Configure its WAN interface to get DHCP from your laptop:

On OpenWrt:

Go to Network → Interfaces
Edit WAN interface (or create new one)
Protocol: DHCP client
Physical interface: The port connected to your laptop’s USB Ethernet

Result:

Laptop (192.168.201.1) → DHCP → OpenWrt WAN → OpenWrt LAN/WiFi devices

OpenWrt gets IP like 192.168.201.50 from your laptop
OpenWrt NATs traffic for its LAN devices
All traffic routes through Clash proxy

Option 2: Router as Switch/Bridge (Advanced)

Convert OpenWrt to bridge mode, making your laptop handle all routing/DHCP:

On OpenWrt:

Disable DHCP server on OpenWrt
Add USB-connected port to br-lan bridge
Set OpenWrt LAN IP to static 192.168.201.2 (or disable IP entirely)

Result:

Laptop (192.168.201.1) → DHCP → All devices (wired+wireless)

Single subnet 192.168.201.0/24
Your laptop handles all routing/DHCP/proxy
OpenWrt acts as dumb AP/switch

Which to choose?

For testing/quick setup → Option 1

Minimal OpenWrt changes
Works with existing OpenWrt config
Double NAT but fine for proxy testing

For clean network → Option 2

Single subnet, no double NAT
All devices directly through Clash
Requires more OpenWrt reconfiguration

Current recommendation:

Try Option 1 first since it’s simpler. On OpenWrt:

Connect USB Ethernet to any LAN port on OpenWrt
Log into OpenWrt LuCI (web interface)
Network → Interfaces → Edit WAN (or create new)
Protocol: DHCP client
Device: Select the physical port connected to laptop
Firewall: Assign to wan zone
Save & Apply

Then connect a device to OpenWrt WiFi/LAN and test curl https://api.ipify.org

Want me to provide exact OpenWrt CLI commands instead of web interface?

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