snmp on WRT54GS

Kol · 10 Aug 2006 at 23:07

Hi guys,

I'm currently running Firmware Version: v4.71.1, Hyperwrt 2.1b1 + Thibor15c on my WRT54GS, but want a better way of getting bandwidth reports. I've been reading up on the router supporting snmp and ways of using it with this firmware, however, I'm struggling to get it working just right.

Any of you fellas running it and can you help?

tolien · 10 Aug 2006 at 23:11

WRT54GS and SNMP yes. Hyperwrt 2.1b1 + Thibor15c no.

What do you not get (screenshots would be useful)?

Kol · 10 Aug 2006 at 23:14

Well, I sort of understand it, I was just following a possible work around for using it with my firmware. I think, as you have pointed out it's not going to work too well with my firmware, that it may indeed be the problem.

I've had a play with several other firmwares, you got any recommendations for a rock solid (well, as stable as this has been) firmware supporting snmp?

Thanks, as always, Tolien

edit - sorry tolien, I missed the bit about what do I not get... well, the most I get is this:

Now, obviously it would be useful to be able to have something like PRTG produce graphs and the snmp part of the router would make this simple.

tolien · 10 Aug 2006 at 23:46

So you mean the firmware doesn't have any SNMP functions?

I get something like this (Administration -> Management), with Sveasoft Talisman 1.2RC3c.

Talisman's been mostly alright, but I haven't been using it as much as normal for a while. Debatable if it's worth $20 a year though.

Mr. Brightside · 11 Aug 2006 at 00:13

I used to use one of the Sveasoft firmwares when I used a WRT54G, never really liked the whole thing of them wanting payment for it yet using a licence to the contrary. I now use an old WRT54G as a simple 4 port switch (ran out of ports on my Netgear 8 port and didn't want to spend any more). Firmware wise I could be using the standard stuff for my purposes but decided I wanted something with more options. DD-WRT works brilliantly for that, and although I've never used it, looking at the GUI right now it does have SNMP support, on Administration>Services>4th one from the bottom.

DD-WRT: http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/index.php

Also, off topic, but at Tolien, is that Rhodium XP you're using as a skin in that screenshot?

Hope this helps, null

Kol · 11 Aug 2006 at 08:03

tolien said:
So you mean the firmware doesn't have any SNMP functions?

I get something like this (Administration -> Management), with Sveasoft Talisman 1.2RC3c.

Talisman's been mostly alright, but I haven't been using it as much as normal for a while. Debatable if it's worth $20 a year though.

The firmware itself no, it doesn't, but it is possible to add it, it seems. I'll have a look at sveasoft and try DD-WRT again. I tried it once but it seemed a little flakey and administration of the router seemed a little bit buggy.

Cheers for your help too null. I'll have a bit more of a read and update everyone on my progress.

Uhtred · 11 Aug 2006 at 08:16

DD-WRT v23 SP1 Final (05/16/06) std is the one i use, it's been rock solid so far using snmp, qos, wol, static dhcp assignment etc etc, even the wireless seems to perform better, haven't had to reboot it since i upgraded it about 2 weeks ago, got some really nice features too, better still it's free

too, many, commas

Kol · 11 Aug 2006 at 08:29

Zap said:
DD-WRT v23 SP1 Final (05/16/06) std is the one i use, it's been rock solid so far using snmp, qos, wol, static dhcp assignment etc etc, even the wireless seems to perform better, haven't had to reboot it since i upgraded it about 2 weeks ago, got some really nice features too, better still it's free

too, many, commas

Cheers. Will try it this morning. (day off! woo)

Uhtred · 11 Aug 2006 at 08:31

Mikol said:
Cheers. Will try it this morning. (day off! woo)

lucky git, i'm sitting at work with a hangover

Kol · 11 Aug 2006 at 08:33

Zap said:
lucky git, i'm sitting at work with a hangover

Unlucky mate

Out of interest, have you ever had any problems at all with the interface? One version I tried was very slow and sometimes wouldn't load fully. I guess I could have downloaded an incorrect version before.

Regarding snmp, I just like the idea of being able to have some software which produces clear graphs. I'm living in a house of 6 and it's nice to be able to identify those hogging the bandwidth. Granted, it's 10Mbit, but still.

Uhtred · 11 Aug 2006 at 09:04

to be honest this is the first dd-wrt i've tried, before that i was using an old sveasoft firmware which did snmp but there were a few things i wanted which made me look for an upgrade. The interface isn't as fast as the sveasoft but it's not slow and all pages load ok

link

Kol · 11 Aug 2006 at 11:36

Cheers mate - I've just popped DD-WRT 23 SP1 as you have got. I'll see how I go. OK, just first impressions this is faster than what I had before. I'll give snmp a go now

edit - tried sp1, it's a bit buggy. after a short while the router just appears to die and the admin pages time out and internet acess goes. I'm trying the standard 23 release, but the gui is naff, it's all text based :/ even tho it's definitely the standard release not mini/micro/etc. Oh well, it works and is quick and allows me to use snmp.

Uhtred · 11 Aug 2006 at 12:31

Mikol said:
Cheers mate - I've just popped DD-WRT 23 SP1 as you have got. I'll see how I go. OK, just first impressions this is faster than what I had before. I'll give snmp a go now

edit - tried sp1, it's a bit buggy. after a short while the router just appears to die and the admin pages time out and internet acess goes. I'm trying the standard 23 release, but the gui is naff, it's all text based :/ even tho it's definitely the standard release not mini/micro/etc. Oh well, it works and is quick and allows me to use snmp.

Strange, i haven't had any issues with it :confused:

Are you using wireless?

They have a good help forum actually, worth asking there

Kol · 11 Aug 2006 at 12:34

I'm going to head over there and see what they suggest. Some pages just time out, yet I go back to hyper/thibor and it's fast as anything and works flawlessly. I just wish they would give it a little bit more functionality.

I've tried both wired/wireless mate - appears to act th same, sadly.

tolien · 11 Aug 2006 at 15:24

null said:
Also, off topic, but at Tolien, is that Rhodium XP you're using as a skin in that screenshot?

Yup.

Be warned, if you do try any of the Sveasoft firmware, that Talisman a) doesn't come with SNMP by default and b) has the package manager broken in some of the earlier versions. I'm only still using it because I don't use wireless much these days and I can't be bothered changing it

Kol · 11 Aug 2006 at 17:59

OK - I've had much more of an in depth read now and it appears it must be done the following way...

1. Ensure it's official Linksys firmware on the router.
2. Upload the dd-wrt mini firmware
3. Upgrade the firmware to dd-wrt standard.

Bit long winded. The other types of firmware haven't been bothered what's on it before hand.

edit - note ot self, always RTFM

Kol · 11 Aug 2006 at 21:32

Now I've finally cracked it, Tolien, you have any recommendations for software to use? I'm currently using PRTG traffic grapher. Do I need to have this software running at all times? If so, I trust your opinion so what software are you running bud?

I'll have a fiddle with my linux box which I'm intending on sorting my mailserver out on, so I guess I could run it on that.

tolien · 12 Aug 2006 at 00:39

Yes, you'd need PRTG running for it to get values.

Mikol said:
Now I've finally cracked it, Tolien, you have any recommendations for software to use?

Cacti and HotSaNIC (old now, not worth bothering with really), both on a box running Debian GNU/Linux.