Drop-in Gateway¶

Please upgrade to v4.2.x to use this feature. There are some bugs in v4.1.x.

On the left side of web Admin Panel -> NETWORK -> Drop-in Gateway

Usage Scenarios¶

For users who do not want to replace their main router, you can use this mode to extend the functionality of your main router.

Use ADGuard Home to filter advertisements
Use encrypted DNS
Use VPN client
It is recommended to use a more powerful router with large memory (e.g. GL-MT2500) and install other traffic forwarding and control tools yourself.

Network Topology¶

drop-in gateway mode typology

The diagram above has two colored lines, gray lines, and green lines with 3 arrows on the green lines, and a number next to each arrow.

The gray lines show that the devices are connected to the main router, and the LAN port of the main router is connected to the WAN port of the GL.iNet router with Drop-in Gateway function via an Ethernet cable.
The green lines indicate that when the Drop-in Gateway mode is enabled, all or part of the devices' data will be processed by the GL.iNet device before being sent out through the main router.

Setup¶

There are two usage scenarios, where all devices can be managed by Drop-in Gateway or only some devices can be managed.

The GL.iNet router referred to below is the GL.iNet router on which you want to enable the Drop-in Gateway function. The router ip address of our main router here is 192.168.1.1.

All devices managed by the Drop-in Gateway¶

The LAN port of the main router connect to the WAN port of the GL.iNet router via an ethernet cable.
Access web Admin Panel of GL.iNet router, enable Drop-in Gateway feature, it will generate the settings automatically.

The IP Address is same of the IP address in Ethernet sector of Internet page. The Gateway and DNS Server 1 are the IP address of the main router. If these items are not set correctly, you can change them manually yourself.

Write down the IP address here, you will use it in the following steps.

You could choose the first configuration method, and click apply.
Log in to the main router's admin page.

GL.iNet

If the brand of main router is GL.iNet and its version is v4.2 and above.

Access web Admin Panel -> NETWORK -> LAN -> DHCP Server -> Advanced

Fill in the DHCP Gateway as the IP Address in step 2, etc. 192.168.1.23, then click Apply.

TP-Link

If the brand of main router is TP-Link. Here is an example of TP-LINK Archer C3150.

Access TP-Link's admin page. At the tab of Advanced -> Network -> DHCP Server, disable the DHCP.

Then click Save.

Linksys

If the brand of main router is Linksys. Here is an example of Linksys WHW01.

Access Linksys's admin page.

At the tab of Local Network, disable the DHCP Server, then click OK.

It will show a warning, click OK.

Others

Please search for the corresponding brand on how to disable DHCP, or consult customer service.
Go back to the GL.iNet router and set up features like ADGuard Home, encypted DNS, WireGaurd Client and OpenVPN Client.

Some devices managed by the Drop-in Gateway¶

The LAN port of the main router connect to the WAN port of the GL.iNet router via an ethernet cable.
Access web Admin Panel of GL.iNet router, enable Drop-in Gateway feature, it will generate the settings automatically.

The IP Address is same of the IP address in Ethernet sector of Internet page. The Gateway and DNS Server 1 are the IP address of the main router. If these items are not set correctly, you can change them manually yourself.

Write down the IP address here, you will use it in the following steps.

You could choose the second configuration method, and click apply.
Set the gateway and DNS on the device that you want to use the Drop-in Gateway feature to the IP address in Drop-in Gateway page.
Windows

Here is an example of Windows 11, Windows 10 is similar. Make sure your PC is connected to the main router, it is assumed here that your computer is connected to the main router via a network cable, and the setup is similar if you connect via WiFi.
1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & Internet.
3. Click the Ethernet tab.
4. You will find the IP address of this PC. Under the "IP assignment" section, click the Edit button.
5. Select the Manual option. Turn on the IPv4 toggle switch.
6. Set the IP address as the IP address you see in step d, Subnet mask set as 255.255.255.0, both Gateway and Preferred DNS set as the IP address in Drop-in Gateway page.
7. Click the Save button.
Android

Here is an example of Samsung S21. Make sure your smartphone is connected to the main router.
1. Open Settings, click on Connections.
2. Click on Wi-Fi.
3. Click the cog icon of current SSID.
4. Click View more.
5. Click IP settings, choose Static.
6. Set the Gateway and DNS 1 as the IP address in Drop-in Gateway page, then click Save.
iOS

Here is an example of iOS 16.3 of iPhone 8. Make sure your smartphone is connected to the main router.
1. Open Settings, click Wi-Fi.
2. Click the SSID.
3. Scroll down, you will find the Configure IP is Automatic, please write dwon IP Address and Subnet Mask, you will need it at next step.
4. Change Configure IP to Manual, set the IP Address and Subnet Mask same as you see in previous step, and set the Router as the IP address in Drop-in Gateway page, then click Save.
5. Click Configure DNS, change it to Manual. Click Add Server, set the server IP address as the IP address in Drop-in Gateway page, then click Save.
Go back to the GL.iNet router and set up features like ADGuard Home, encypted DNS, WireGaurd Client and OpenVPN Client.

Cautions¶

It will increase the latency when using this mode.
When this mode is enabled, the data transferred between the selected devices in the LAN will also pass through the drop-in gateway, so the bandwidth between the main router and the drop-in gateway will affect the bandwidth of the whole LAN.

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