Hello everyone, I am Xu Yingguo.
In the previous episode, we introduced the soft router, common systems, and several methods for selecting hardware.
If you haven’t seen it, I suggest you watch that episode first to build a solid foundation.
After assembling the hardware for the soft router, the next step is to install the soft router system.
In the last episode, we mentioned two common methods for installing a soft router:
1. Direct installation on a physical machine
2. Indirect installation on a virtual machine
If you have a certain foundation and decent hardware for the soft router, you can choose either method.
However, if you are a beginner, I suggest you follow my tutorial step by step, and not rush into installing multiple soft routers on a virtual machine, as you might encounter many obstacles due to insufficient foundation.
Everyone should have the awareness of sharpening their knives before cutting down the small monsters to gain experience; wait until you are well-prepared before challenging the big bosses, which increases your chances of success and reduces pain. If you want to challenge the big bosses right away, it will be extremely painful and not worth it.
Therefore, I suggest beginners first learn the direct installation method on a physical machine, familiarize themselves with the various functions of the soft router system for a while, and then gradually master the installation methods for virtual platforms like ESXI or PVE, as well as methods for virtualizing a single soft router system or multiple soft router systems.
The direct installation method on a physical machine can generally be divided into two installation methods based on the installation location.
The so-called installation location refers to which storage medium you plan to install the soft router system on. Generally, there are two most commonly used:
a. Install on internal storage devices
(mechanical hard drives, msata interface SSDs, SATA interface SSDs, M.2 interface SSDs, etc.)
Note that at this time, an SSD is not necessary; any stable running hard drive will do, generally just a small hard drive is needed.
If you must use multiple hard drives, you can connect only the hard drive you want to install the soft router on during installation.
After the soft router system is installed, power down and reconnect other hard drives, then start the machine and set the storage details within the system.
b. Install on external mobile devices.
(USB drives, card readers + TF cards, mobile hard drives, mobile hard drive enclosures + hard drives, etc.)
After the soft router system starts, it runs in memory with low read and write frequency, so the performance requirements for storage devices are extremely low.
Therefore, even if installed on various devices under the USB2.0 protocol, it can run perfectly.
Moreover, there is another advantage: messing with a USB drive is much simpler and more convenient than messing with a hard drive.
If you have three USB drives, you can install LEDE, Aikuaikao, and Gaoke soft router systems on them respectively.
When you want to use a specific system, just plug in the corresponding USB drive to quickly switch soft router systems.
When you want to change systems, just switch to another USB drive, which is incredibly convenient.
This way, you can save the cost of a hard drive, as USB drives are much cheaper than hard drives.
The only disadvantage of this method is that you cannot run multiple soft router systems simultaneously.
Note: The following operations are done using a USB drive, but the steps are the same if using other mobile devices. The specifics are as follows:
1. Ensure the soft router hardware is set up correctly and can power on, then download the soft router USB installation toolkit.
I have packaged this toolkit, which includes the images for LEDE, Aikuaikao, and Gaoke systems, as well as the DiskImage writing tool. It can be downloaded from the usual place.
2. Insert the USB drive into the computer and transfer important data away to ensure it is in a clean state.
During installation, all data on the USB drive will be cleared, so if you have important data, please be sure to back it up or move it to another hard drive.
3. Open the DiskImage software, select the USB drive you want to install the soft router on from the drive selection.
You can select the corresponding item in Physical Disk based on the USB drive’s number and capacity. Generally, it is the last item.
Be careful not to select the wrong one, or it will be disastrous. Be sure to look carefully here.
4. Click Browse, select the soft router system IMG image file, confirm everything is correct, then click Start to begin writing.
Find and select the IMG image by its name and location, then double-click or click Open.
Once confirmed, click Start, and the software will automatically write the image; just wait for the writing to complete.
5. After safely ejecting the USB drive and other mobile devices, remove the USB drive and insert it into the machine where you want to run the soft router.
If the soft router machine has USB ports in the front and back, try to plug the USB drive into the back.
After all, as the saying goes: plug in the back, not the front, happiness is like a fairy.
At this point, make sure not to connect any hard drives or optical drives or other bootable devices; just plug in the USB drive that has the soft router installed.
6. Power on and wait for the soft router to boot to the console interface; you can modify the LAN address to complete the final steps.
Remember, at this time, ensure the computer is connected to the soft router with only one network cable, and do not connect to other routers, optical modems, or switches.
It is recommended to input an address that does not conflict with the optical modem or other routers, and be sure to remember it, as this is the management address of the router.
For example, 192.168.3.1 or 192.168.9.1 or 192.168.99.1 or 192.168.1.199, etc. Below we take 192.168.3.1 as an example.
LEDE soft router installation completion
LEDE soft router system startup complete
In the computer browser, input the default IP of LEDE: 192.168.1.1 and press Enter to open the login interface.
If it doesn’t open, try plugging the network cable into another port of the soft router.
To log in, input username: root password: koolshare
On the left side, click Network – Interface – LAN port edit, modify the IPv4 address in the LAN address, save and apply.
If you are used to entering code, you can also input in the console interface: vi etc/config/network and press Enter.
Move the cursor to the LAN address position, press the letter i to enter input mode, modify by deleting and entering, and then press ESC to exit input mode, then input :wq (the English colon and wq) to exit edit mode.
After modifying and saving, input reboot to restart and apply.
Due to the slightly complicated final work of the Aikuaikao soft router system, it will be detailed in the next episode, so please stay tuned.
Gaoke soft router installation completion
Gaoke soft router system startup complete.
Input number 2 and press Enter to set the LAN address. Assuming it is set to 192.168.3.1, input and press Enter.
It will prompt to input the mask, input 255.255.255.0 and press Enter, wait a few seconds, and it will prompt that the setup is successful.
Now in the computer’s browser, input 192.168.3.1 to access the Gaoke soft router.
Default login account admin, password also admin.
After logging in, you can perform related settings.
The above are the conventional installation steps for installing the soft router on USB drives and other mobile devices.
Although this method can successfully install the soft router, there are still two problems:
a. How to ensure that the soft router starts automatically after a power outage and restores network connectivity?
b. How to ensure that the soft router smoothly starts the soft router system every time, instead of booting into other startup items?
The solution to the first problem is to enable the power-on feature in the BIOS.
The solution to the second problem is to set the soft router as the first boot item in the BIOS.
Both of these require settings in the BIOS, and the steps are as follows:
1. Press the corresponding key to enter the BIOS during startup for subsequent settings.
Ensure the soft router machine is connected to a monitor and keyboard, and after pressing the power button, repeatedly press the key to enter BIOS setup.
The specific key is usually displayed in the lower left corner of the monitor after the motherboard self-check.
Common keys to enter BIOS settings for desktops: DEL, ESC, F1, F2, F8, F9, F10, F12
Common keys to enter BIOS settings for laptops: Delete, ESC, F1, F2, F10
Generally, it is one of the above keys; if you have tried them all without success, you can search for the BIOS entry key for your specific motherboard model.
2. Enable the power-on feature to ensure the soft router keeps running.
After entering the BIOS, first set the automatic power-on feature to avoid the soft router failing to continue working after a power outage.
The specific settings vary depending on the motherboard, but generally, look for settings related to POWER.
If there is AC before POWER, or if there are options such as Power On/Turn On, select the corresponding option.
If you cannot find it, you can search for your motherboard model and “motherboard model + power-on” to find the corresponding setting method.
3. Set the first boot item to avoid the soft router booting into other boot items.
Next, set the USB drive with the soft router system installed as the first boot item in the BIOS to ensure it can boot.
Most BIOS setups allow this to be set on the BOOT page, while a few may require it to be set in the Advanced section.
Pay attention to the following terms that indicate the first boot item: boot option #1, 1st Boot Device, first boot device.
Find the item corresponding to the USB drive with the soft router installed, and usually adjust the order to make it the first boot item using the selection options or +/-.
Then save the changes and exit the BIOS. (Save and Exit/Save Changes and Exit/your motherboard BIOS save shortcut)
In fact, if you do not plan to install other hard drives or bootable devices in the future, ensuring there is only one soft router system USB drive, this step can be skipped. When there is only one bootable device, there is no need to set the first boot item.
However, the benefits of setting it are still significant, as this way, even if you add other devices in the future, it will not affect the soft router’s boot.
If you do not set it, it is very likely that after a reboot, the soft router will not be the first boot item and will not enter the soft router system.
About the boot mode issue of different motherboards
1. If all previous steps are correct, but the soft router system cannot start normally, the most likely issue is an incorrect boot mode that needs to be changed.
Generally, there are two boot modes in BIOS: Legacy and UEFI. Most hardware produced in the last two years defaults to UEFI boot.
If using a UEFI version or combined (hybrid version) of the soft router system, it can boot directly.
However, if it is a Legacy boot soft router system, it cannot boot and needs to enable CSM compatibility mode in the Advanced or Boot page.
Some motherboards may also require setting the OS version.
