Actiontec electronic WRT54G instruction

Dual Router Configuration:

Actiontec GT701 DSL Modem and LinkSys WRT54G Wireless Router/Switch

This document describes the steps that I took to make my HP EX485 Windows Home Server accessible from the Internet. I have a dual router configuration, with a Qwest provided Actiontec GT701 DSL Modem/Router connecting me to the Internet and a LinkSys WRT54G wireless router/switch connected to the GT701 (via the WRT54G's WAN port) providing local area networking to my wired and wireless PCs and printers. The EX485 server is plugged into a switch port on the WRT54G. To make the EX485 accessible from the Internet you have 2 choices. You can either place the WRT54G in the GT701's DMZ or you can can set the GT701 and WRT54G into a “dual port forwarding” configuration. In this configuration the GT701 forwards the necessary ports to the WRT54G and the WRT54G forwards them to the EX485. I have used both methods and prefer the “dual port forwarding option which I describe in this document. It is easier to set up and is (I think) more secure than placing your WRT54G into the GT701's DMZ.

NOTE: These instructions assume that your GT701's IP address is 192.168.0.1 and your WRT54G's IP Address is 192.168.1.1. If yours are different, use yours instead. Also, in my case I set a static IP address of 192.168.1.200 for my EX485 (You want to use a static IP for your EX485 so that it's IP address never changes and you can reliably do port forwarding to it). You can use an address other than “200” if you prefer. If you do, just remember to substitute that number for “200” in the instructions below. The instructions also assume that your Qwest assigned primary DNS address is 205.171.3.65 and your secondary DNS address is 205.171.2.65. You should double check that before implementing these instructions. If your addresses are different, use them instead of the ones in these instructions. You can get the DNS addresses by contacting Qwest support. You can also get them by logging into your Actiontec GT701. Your DNS addresses will be displayed at the bottom of the main Status page.

DISCLAIMER: These instructions worked for me with the equipment stated. You should be able to make these steps work with other modems and routers as long as they support port forwarding. The concepts should be the same although the exact steps and screens will vary. However, even if you have this exact same equipment, do not go into this lightly. There is the possibility that you will make changes that will make your modem or router cease to work properly, in which case you would have to reset them back to factory defaults and start over again. Be sure that you have a backup plan before proceeding! That backup plan should include, at a bare minimum, logging into your GT701 and WRT54G and recording all non-factory settings that you may have made to these devices. It is particularly important that you have your Qwest DSL “PPP Username” and “PPP Password”. You will need these in order to get back onto the Internet if you have to do a hard reset on the GT701. If you don't have this username and password call Qwest right now and get it. I have included instructions for resetting both the GT701 and WRT54G back to factory defaults at the end of this document.

One additional note: For reasons that I can't explain, sometimes the GT701 and WRT54G may need to be power cycled between steps. If you have made changes to one or the other and things aren't working, before you panic, try powering off both devices. Then power the GT701 on first. Wait until you have green power, DSL, and Internet lights and then power on the WRT54G. Often this makes things happy again. If it doesn't, and all else fails, you will have to reset both devices back to factory defaults (described at the end of this document) and start over again.

Ok, let's get started. It is important that you perform these instructions in the order shown below.