Redundant Internet connections on consumer hardware with OpenWrt and Mwan3

A router with two Internet connections provides many advantages, including better network performance and continued operation if one link fails. Redundant Internet connections have long been standard for data centers and enterprise networks, but they are relatively rare in homes and small offices.

One reason for the absence of redundant connections on small networks is cost, but even when cost is not an issue, home users and small-time admins are often intimidated by the technical issues of supporting two Internet connections through the same inexpensive router.

The ever-resourceful open source universe, however, does provide an inexpensive solution for running redundant Internet connections through an inexpensive home router. The solution begins with OpenWrt, a Linux distribution designed to run on routers and other embedded devices. If you are adventurous enough to install OpenWrt on your router device, you will discover you have much more control over the device than you ever had with the standard router firmware interface. In particular, the Mwan3 extension available for OpenWrt provides support for redundant connections. Mwan3 dynamically manages access via two or more uplinks, uses Ping to ensure that the links are working and, when necessary, adds NAT support and dynamic IPtables rules.

[...]

Use Express-Checkout link below to read the full article (PDF).

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF
Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Linux Magazine

SINGLE ISSUES
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content

  • Turris Omnia

    Home routers are known for weak security. Turris Omnia is an attempt to build a better router through the power of open source.

  • Tuning WLAN Routers

    Learn how to take control of your home routing device with OpenWrt.

  • OpenWrt on a Pi

    Light open source router firmware breathes new life into your old Raspberry Pi.

  • Free Software Projects

    OpenWRT puts Linux on WLAN routers and helps users set up large-scale WLANs at home, and the FreeWRT derivative adds a professional touch. If you don’t have your own compile farm, the OpenSUSE build service may be just what you need. And we investigate the obstacles to new packages for Debian.

  • Gargoyle: Web Interface for Router Configuration

    The Gargoyle project is working on an alternative web interface for better router configuration. The project has now reached its first stable version 1.0.

comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News