DSLoL: Setting up a WAN connection that operates over a logical WLAN interface of a LANCOM access point or wifi router

Description:

An IPv4 masquerading ("NAT") is only possible over a WAN connection. When going in the direction of a LAN or WLAN interface wants to mask, then the appropriate LAN or WLAN interface must be declared as a DSL port, so that it can be used to establish a WAN connection (typically IPoE or DHCPoE).

This was only possible for access points until LCOS 10.12. As of LCOS version 10.20 DSLoL is also available for WiFi routers.

This document describes how to set up a WAN connection that operates over a logical WLAN interface of a LANCOM access point or wifi router (DSLoL).

Requirements:

• LANtools as of version 7.80 (download latest version), LCOS as of version 10.20 for wifi routers
• LCOS as of version 7.80 (download latest version), LCOS as of version 10.20 for wifi routers

Procedure:

1) Open the configuration of the LANCOM access point or wifi router in LANconfig and go to the menu Interfaces → WAN → Interface settings → DSLoL.

2) Under LAN interface select the appropriate logical WLAN interface that is to be used to establish the WAN connection.

3) Go to the menu Wireless LAN → General → Physical WLAN settings.

Screenshot of a wireless LAN configuration interface showing options for general handling, encryption, interfaces, multi-SSID settings, and point-to-point network settings.

4) Make sure, that the WLAN interface is enabled and set the WLAN operation mode to Station (Client mode).

Image showing a detailed WLAN interface settings menu, focusing on features like adaptive RF optimization, client mode operation, broken LAN link detection, and LED functions indicating connection quality and signal strength.

5) Change to the tab Client mode and make sure, that the parameter Keep client connection alive is active and Scan bands is set to All.

Image shows a complex user interface screen with options for configuring WLAN settings, including adaptive RF optimization, performance, network type restructuring, and AP selection preferences based on signal strength.

6) Go to the menu Logical WLAN settings and select the WLAN interface used in step 2 (in this example WLAN-1).

Image showing a user interface for configuring wireless LAN settings, including options for encryption, interfaces, multi-SSID settings, and point-to-point network configurations.

7) Make sure, that the WLAN network is enabled and enter the WiFi name you want to establish a connection with as Network name (SSID).

An image displaying a complex network settings interface with various configuration options such as WLAN settings, network SSID, encryption, client bridge support, and advanced features like RADIUS accounting and LBS tracking.

8) Go to the tab Encryption and change the following parameters:

• Key 1/passphrase: Enter the WPA key  of the WiFi network you want to connect to.
• WPA version: Select the used encryption mode of the WiFi network you want to connect to (in this example WPA2).

Image displaying a complex user interface for configuring WLAN network settings, featuring options such as RADIUS server, WPA encryption, session key encryption method, EAP method, and PMK caching.

9) Set up a Plain Ethernet connection  via the setup wizard  Set up Internet access  and enter an unused DSL port. The procedure is described in this Knowledge Base article.

10) Go to the menu Communication → Remote Sites → Remote sites (DSL).

An image of a technical configuration menu displaying options for managing wireless LAN, data transfers, interfaces, and various tunnel types including PPTP.

11) Edit the Plain Ethernet connection created in step 9) and enter the DSL port for DSLoL.

• Router with four LAN ports: DSL port 5
• Router with two LAN ports: DSL port 2

A screenshot showing a technical configuration interface with fields for MAC address type and other settings.

12) The configuratuion of the access point / WiFi router is now complete. Write the configuration back into the device.