Backup Manual DHCP List?

[JGrana]

Going back to the original poster's question, I have a suggestion.

If you create a file called /jffs/configs/dnsmasq.conf.add with this line:
dhcp-hostsfile=/jffs/etc/dnsmasq/static_leases

Then you can put all your manual DHCP leases into this file /jffs/etc/dnsmasq/static_leases which will survive firmware resets and is easily maintained using nano or vi.

The format of the static_leases file is:
xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx,hostname,a.b.c.d,time_to_live

for example:
00:0C:29:41:AA:BB,barney,192.168.0.50,10080m

I'm curious - does this work with the RT-AC68U in terms of the format of the file?
The reason I ask is that, running nvram get dhcp_staticlist, all I get is the MAC address and the IP address. No hostname or TTL.

I would like to bind the hostname to the IP/MAC setting on the 68U.

 

[RMerlin]

I'm curious - does this work with the RT-AC68U in terms of the format of the file?
The reason I ask is that, running nvram get dhcp_staticlist, all I get is the MAC address and the IP address. No hostname or TTL.

I would like to bind the hostname to the IP/MAC setting on the 68U.

Those are two different things. He's talking about the dnsmasq config. You are talking about the webui config.

 

[JGrana]

Those are two different things. He's talking about the dnsmasq config. You are talking about the webui config.

I see. So, will the dnsmasq hosts file override the webui config? Should I use one over the other or just make sure both are in sync?

 

[RMerlin]

The firmware uses the addn-hosts config setting in dnsmasq.conf to provide the webui static reservations. No idea how it will interact with adding your own entries, you will have to see the dnsmasq documentation.

 

[cdikland]

Going back to the original poster's question, I have a suggestion.

If you create a file called /jffs/configs/dnsmasq.conf.add with this line:
dhcp-hostsfile=/jffs/etc/dnsmasq/static_leases

Then you can put all your manual DHCP leases into this file /jffs/etc/dnsmasq/static_leases which will survive firmware resets and is easily maintained using nano or vi.

I am totally new to Linux so pardon my ignorance however the directory "/jffs/etc/dnsmasq/" does not exist on my router. Do I have to create it or can I use an existing directory??

This is what I have so far but it fails because "Directory does not exist.... "

1) echo "dhcp-hostsfile=/jffs/etc/dnsmasq/static_leases" >> /jffs/configs/dnsmasq.conf.add
2) echo "EC:1A:59:68:5D:19,Foyer Motion,192.168.1.201,10080m" >> /jffs/etc/dnsmasq/static_leases

Step 2 fails....

 

[oldgringo]

Of course, you have to create the directory before running 2nd line. For this example by running this:

mkdir /jffs/etc
mkdir /jffs/etc/dnsmasq

 

[RMerlin]

Of course, you have to create the directory before running 2nd line. For this example by running this:

mkdir /jffs/etc
mkdir /jffs/etc/dnsmasq

Custom config files must go into /jffs/configs/ if you want the firmware to automatically pick it up.

 

[oldgringo]

Custom config files must go into /jffs/configs/ if you want the firmware to automatically pick it up.

You are right and my message is completely in line with it. There was an example for /jffs/configs/dnsmasq.conf.add file with row

dhcp-hostsfile=/jffs/[B]etc/dnsmasq[/B]/static_leases

so it is the reason I gave him this help. It's just the directory for static_leases data file not dnsmasq.conf.add one. It should prevent him from the error message he's got.

 

[cdikland]

Custom config files must go into /jffs/configs/ if you want the firmware to automatically pick it up.

That's what I was looking for. Thank you

 

[cdikland]

You are right and my message is completely in line with it. There was an example for /jffs/configs/dnsmasq.conf.add file with row

dhcp-hostsfile=/jffs/[B]etc/dnsmasq[/B]/static_leases

so it is the reason I gave him this help. It's just the directory for static_leases data file not dnsmasq.conf.add one. It should prevent him from the error message he's got.

I had figured as much but I was reluctant to make any changes to my router without confirmation. For all I know creating the directory and not setting proper privileges and my router will no longer boot without errors

 

[Ramias]

Ok so I run the nvram get dhcp_staticlist command via Tools\Run CMD on my router.

The response is <MAC>IP.IP.IP.IP>HostName<MAC>IP>Hostname etc

I can save that single line off some place. If I just want to restore that single line and nothing else (and not backup the entire nvram to a settings file) would I just run:

nvram set dhcp_staticlist="long string from above with 20 or so MACs/IPs/Hosts"
nvram commit

 

[saintdev]

Ok so I run the nvram get dhcp_staticlist command via Tools\Run CMD on my router.

The response is <MAC>IP.IP.IP.IP>HostName<MAC>IP>Hostname etc

I can save that single line off some place. If I just want to restore that single line and nothing else (and not backup the entire nvram to a settings file) would I just run:

nvram set dhcp_staticlist="long string from above with 20 or so MACs/IPs/Hosts"
nvram commit

correct

10char

 

[cdikland]

Going back to the original poster's question, I have a suggestion.

If you create a file called /jffs/configs/dnsmasq.conf.add with this line:
dhcp-hostsfile=/jffs/etc/dnsmasq/static_leases

Then you can put all your manual DHCP leases into this file /jffs/etc/dnsmasq/static_leases which will survive firmware resets and is easily maintained using nano or vi.

The format of the static_leases file is:
xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx,hostname,a.b.c.d,time_to_live

for example:
00:0C:29:41:AA:BB,barney,192.168.0.50,10080m

I use this exact format for static_leases and get "bad DHCP host name at line 1 of /jffs/etc/dnsmasq/static_leases"

The Line I use is:"a4:ba:db:fb:84:ae,ALIENWAREPC,192.168.1.230,10080m"

Router: N66U, FW:3.0.0.4.374.39 (Merlin build)

 

[cdikland]

Ok so I run the nvram get dhcp_staticlist command via Tools\Run CMD on my router.

The response is <MAC>IP.IP.IP.IP>HostName<MAC>IP>Hostname etc

I can save that single line off some place. If I just want to restore that single line and nothing else (and not backup the entire nvram to a settings file) would I just run:

nvram set dhcp_staticlist="long string from above with 20 or so MACs/IPs/Hosts"
nvram commit

I tried the above method as well however my line is too long. If I cut the list I got from "nvram get dhcp_staticlist" in half it works fine but I need a means to get the entire list back in.

 

[FireWire76]

I tried the above method as well however my line is too long. If I cut the list I got from "nvram get dhcp_staticlist" in half it works fine but I need a means to get the entire list back in.

Same problem here. It's not possible to paste the full output of "nvram get dhcp_staticlist" in the "Tools - Run System Command". And it doesn't seem possible to chop it up in several parts either, because only the last ran command(nvram set dhcp_staticlist) is applied...

Any tip on how to get the whole list back?

 

[Martineau]

Same problem here. It's not possible to paste the full output of "nvram get dhcp_staticlist" in the "Tools - Run System Command". And it doesn't seem possible to chop it up in several parts either, because only the last ran command(nvram set dhcp_staticlist) is applied...

Any tip on how to get the whole list back?

I use a script maintained on Windows Norepad++ and simply dragged/dropped into /jffs/scripts using WinSCP

#!/bin/sh

# Martineau Refresh a sorted list of the DHCP STATIC table

logger -t "($(basename $0))" DHCP static table reset

nvram set dhcp_staticlist="<xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx>nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn>Name1<xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx>nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn>Name2   < repeat etc. "

nvram commit

I have currently 29 devices defined.. and sorted by I/P!

Regards,

 

[cdikland]

You can break the data up into multiple lines using a (\) backslash.
Example
nvram set dhcp_staticlist="<xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx>192.168.1.200>Nest Thermostat<xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx>192.168.1.201>Foyer Motion<xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx>192.168.1.224>Kathys iPad \
<xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx>iPhone 2<xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx>192.168.1.249>Balboa Spa"
nvram commit

 

[FireWire76]

You can break the data up into multiple lines using a (\) backslash.
Example
nvram set dhcp_staticlist="<xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx>192.168.1.200>Nest Thermostat<xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx>192.168.1.201>Foyer Motion<xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx>192.168.1.224>Kathys iPad \
<xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx>iPhone 2<xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx>192.168.1.249>Balboa Spa"
nvram commit

How do I put this in Tools - Run System Command? It doesn't allow everything in one row. I am a noob, so please be more specific on how to input this in the Run Command view.

 

[cdikland]

How do I put this in Tools - Run System Command? It doesn't allow everything in one row. I am a noob, so please be more specific on how to input this in the Run Command view.

Hhhm. I used putty.exe not the "Tools/Run Cmd". Under Admin/system enable JFFS+Format JFFS+Telnet+SSH then download putty, install and connect SSH.
once you log on you can paste your list at the command prompt
i.e (assuming your list is broken into 2 lines

Line 1 = nvram set dhcp_staticlist="<xx:xx:xx:xx>192.168.1.200>Nest............ \ (Note backslash followed by <enter>)

Line 2> xx:xx:xx:xx>192.168.1.222>whatever..... " (Note Quote followed by <enter>)

 

[MarkyPancake]

How can we do this on the N66U now that the command line tab has been removed?