Tutorial Asus Dual WAN Router Load Balancing and Failover Router Problems and Fix

[Tech9]

It doesn't have to be MicroTik. Ubiquiti EX-R and TP-Link ER605 also do proper Dual/Multi WAN for about $60.

 

[garycnew]

It doesn't have to be MicroTik. Ubiquiti EX-R and TP-Link ER605 also do proper Dual/Multi WAN for about $60.

@Tech9

Appreciate you adding more prospective to this topic, so others can determine the best solution for their needs.

In my initial research, I considered Ubiquiti and TP-Link as alternatives, but kept returning to Mikrotik for its features, pricing, and routeros.

With Mikrotik, one is able to use two Mikrotik devices (Wireless + Wired) to terminate 5G mobile over WiFi Hotspot in a Loadbalanced Dual-WAN (Fiber + 5G) Configuration.

Mikrotik just seemed like the logical choice for me.

Thank you for your comment.

Respectfully,


Gary

 

[Tech9]

Indeed, options are available. Low cost options under $100 are limited.

 

[TechLedr]

With the latest build of Merlin 386.4 on my RT-AC1900/AC68U, My Dual-Wan config is still working but now the front page / Network Map is showing the Primary as Disconnected when it is connected. Hopefully this will be resolved in the next build!

 

[TechLedr]

I ended up purchasing a $60 Mikrotik router.
here is what it can do.
Continuous ping

Live Streaming

But i use my AC5300 in front of my Mikrotik router. Because we all know asus UI is very user-friendly and easy to manage everything.

Yes, asus should learn from Mikrotik and other who do Dual Wan very well.

I'd love to get a config file of how the MicroTik router handles the Dual-WAN. I am having issue with my ASUS RT-AC1900P and Dual WAN to backup (Fallover only, due to HotSpot limits) my ISP to Hotspot, and this might be a good way to go.

 

[TechLedr]

@Tech9

Appreciate you adding more prospective to this topic, so others can determine the best solution for their needs.

In my initial research, I considered Ubiquiti and TP-Link as alternatives, but kept returning to Mikrotik for its features, pricing, and routeros.

With Mikrotik, one is able to use two Mikrotik devices (Wireless + Wired) to terminate 5G mobile over WiFi Hotspot in a Loadbalanced Dual-WAN (Fiber + 5G) Configuration.

Mikrotik just seemed like the logical choice for me.

Thank you for your comment.

Respectfully,


Gary

Any reason why I cant use the RB952Ui-5ac2nD
If MikroTik will support being a wireless client, then I can use it to directly connect to my backup VZN HotSpot.... (It's a $49 option but has wireless, not as powerful)

Specifications​

Details
Product code	RB952Ui-5ac2nD
Architecture	MIPSBE
CPU	QCA9531
CPU core count	1
CPU nominal frequency	650 MHz
Dimensions	113 x 89 x 28mm
RouterOS license	4
Operating System	RouterOS
Size of RAM	64 MB
Storage size	16 MB
Storage type	FLASH

 

[Tech9]

Any reason why I cant use the RB952Ui-5ac2nD

You probably can, but with WAN connections up to 100Mbps. This routers has 100Mbps ports.

 

[garycnew]

Any reason why I cant use the RB952Ui-5ac2nD
If MikroTik will support being a wireless client, then I can use it to directly connect to my backup VZN HotSpot.... (It's a $49 option but has wireless, not as powerful)

Specifications​

Details
Product code	RB952Ui-5ac2nD
Architecture	MIPSBE
CPU	QCA9531
CPU core count	1
CPU nominal frequency	650 MHz
Dimensions	113 x 89 x 28mm
RouterOS license	4
Operating System	RouterOS
Size of RAM	64 MB
Storage size	16 MB
Storage type	FLASH

I recommend the hAP ac3 as your Mikrotik wireless device plus any of the Mikrotik gigabit wired devices.

Here's the related Wireless to Wireless Presentation.

Let us know your experience.

Enjoy!


Gary

 

[TechLedr]

You probably can, but with WAN connections up to 100Mbps. This routers has 100Mbps ports.

Thanks for showing me that. The model number are very confusing. Seems I really need the RB962UiGS-5HacT2HnT to have Gig Ports and WiFi AP.
The Price is more also $119. I will have to weight the difference from what you used.

Specifications​

Details
Product code	RB962UiGS-5HacT2HnT
Architecture	MIPSBE
CPU	QCA9558
CPU core count	1
CPU nominal frequency	720 MHz
Dimensions	114 x 137 x 29mm
RouterOS license	4
Operating System	RouterOS
Size of RAM	128 MB
Storage size	16 MB
Storage type	FLASH

"The hAP ac is our most universal home or office wireless device. It is a dual band device with Gigabit ports that allow the full advantages of 802.11ac technology speed, while maintaining compatibility with legacy devices in 2GHz 802.11 b/g/n and 5GHz a/n modes. "
�
Speed almost as good:

Mode

Configuration

1518 byte kpps/Mbps

Bridging

none (fast path)

161.9

1,966.1

Routing

none (fast path)

161.9

1,966.1

Routing

25 ip filter rules

78.1

948.4

 

[gaman69]

With the latest build of Merlin 386.4 on my RT-AC1900/AC68U, My Dual-Wan config is still working but now the front page / Network Map is showing the Primary as Disconnected when it is connected. Hopefully this will be resolved in the next build!

There is a solution available for this issue

 

[TechLedr]

There is a solution available for this issue

YES!
Thanks, this did fix it!

 

[bsauvage]

I've got a similar problem: my ISP provides me with a modem that has 2x 1Gb connections and both can work concurrently and deliver the full output. However they don't support WAN aggregation so I can't benefit from a 2Gb speed with my ASUS GT-AX11000.
I want to connect everything through my ASUS router, so I was trying to setup Dual WAN with load balance and some rules to ensure a specific device (my main computer with manual IP 192.168.50.128; the rest being assigned by DHCP from 192.168.50.2 to 192.168.50.127) gets exclusive access to primary, while all other traffic goes through secondary.
The below setup doesn't work (I'm capped at 1Gb across all devices, so it doesn't even seem to make use of both connections at the same time!).
Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

 

[L&LD]

Welcome to the forums @bsauvage.

Have you tested by directly plugging in two client devices (temporarily) to the modem and seeing 2Gbps speeds in total?

I don't see how your assumptions would give you what you want. Any single client can only get a maximum of 1Gbps. Load balancing isn't LAG.

 

[bsauvage]

Welcome to the forums @bsauvage.

Have you tested by directly plugging in two client devices (temporarily) to the modem and seeing 2Gbps speeds in total?

I don't see how your assumptions would give you what you want. Any single client can only get a maximum of 1Gbps. Load balancing isn't LAG.

Thank you! New at this and not a network specialist by any means so please bear with me if I don't make sense!

Yes I have tested and 2 clients (one in each plug) each have 1Gb.

So as there isn't any way to use WAN aggregation (I've contacted the ISP and the protocol is not supported by their modem), I was trying to find a different way to achieve this, by having my main computer connected to one WAN, and all other devices to the other - and I thought the Dual Wan with the right rules (ensuring traffic from computer goes through primary wan, and all the rest through secondary) could achieve that, but perhaps I'm mistaken?

I could connect my computer directly in the modem's plug but then lose all the ASUS protections. Perhaps I should by a small 'buffer box' connected to one of the plugs then to my computer, just to act as a sort of net wall ? (if you think that would be fine, what would you recommend, the above-mentionned mikrotik or else?)

 

[Tech Junky]

Perhaps I should by a small 'buffer box'

You can get a small wired router for $50 and that should offer protection instead of a direct plug in to the modem and then having to install a firewall application which just adds to the headaches. Or if you're using Linux adding firewall protection is relatively simple and more powerful than a router off the shelf.

I run a PC as a router using Linux and it performs better than anything you get in a store. Depending on how much through you put into it you can lock it down tight than a gnat's butt or just enough to keep people out generally. Taking a layered approach to the firewalling and adding a VPN on top of it keeps your IP from being exposed for attack.

If you converted a PC into a "router" you could do as many WAN links as you want and at any speeds you want by changing NIC's to match the speeds.

 

[garycnew]

Thank you! New at this and not a network specialist by any means so please bear with me if I don't make sense!

Yes I have tested and 2 clients (one in each plug) each have 1Gb.

So as there isn't any way to use WAN aggregation (I've contacted the ISP and the protocol is not supported by their modem), I was trying to find a different way to achieve this, by having my main computer connected to one WAN, and all other devices to the other - and I thought the Dual Wan with the right rules (ensuring traffic from computer goes through primary wan, and all the rest through secondary) could achieve that, but perhaps I'm mistaken?

I could connect my computer directly in the modem's plug but then lose all the ASUS protections. Perhaps I should by a small 'buffer box' connected to one of the plugs then to my computer, just to act as a sort of net wall ? (if you think that would be fine, what would you recommend, the above-mentionned mikrotik or else?)

First, the Asuswrt Dual-WAN Load Balance Feature only works in a Weighted, Round-Robin fashion (not Aggregation). Second, your client computers, on your network, will have to be connected with at least 2Gbps links in order to take advantage of 2Gbps Link Aggregation. Third, purchase a Mikrotik (or Alternative) to perform the Link Aggregation of the 1Gbps + 1Gbps Fiber Connections and place it in front of your GT-AX11000.

 

[bsauvage]

Thank you all for the thoughts. Looks like I should get that other box! Sad that such a so-called "high end" device as the ASUS doesn't handle this natively.
My old asus modem still works, perhaps I can add this to the AiMesh and connect my computer through it, thus ensuring I get the desired result and having the computer on the same network as the other devices ?
On the Mikrotik (or equivalent): why would it be able to do Link Aggregation, while my ISP explicitly told me "WAN Aggregation" (802.3ad) is not supported, which I've tried on the ASUS and indeed didn't seem to aggregate anything ? Also, when checking the docs (for example on the RB750Gr3 mentionned previously) it doesn't seem to be able to handle above 1Gb, so how would I connect it to ASUS, it seems I would instead needa box with 2x 1Gb in, link aggreg then 2.5Gb output to the ASUS ?

 

[Tech9]

What is 2x 1Gb connections? What is the ISP plan you are paying for?

 

[bsauvage]

What is 2x 1Gb connections? What is the ISP plan you are paying for?

it's advertised as a 2Gb fiber plan that due to the bad modem they give it with is in fact a duplexed 2x 1Gb which can't be combined into one.

 

[Tech9]

What's the modem make/model?