Billion 8800NL R2

We started testing out this router in February 2017. Below are some notes.

Default Settings

Default/Factory Settings
Username:	admin
Password:	admin
IP:	192.168.1.254

Factory Reset

With the router powered on, hold down the RESET button until the PWR light changes colour (RED), then release.

Firmware

The latest firmware can be downloaded from: Bipac 8800NL R2 Firmware 2.52.d3

Bridge Setup

How to setup the 8800NL R2 as a Bridge:

• Configuration -> WAN -> WAN Service
  • Edit ptm0.1
  • Type: Bridging
  • Description: br_0_1_0.101
  • 802.1P Priority: 0
  • 802.1Q VLAN ID: 101
  • Click Apply
• Configuration -> LAN -> Interface Grouping
  • Groups Isolation: Enable
  • Click Apply
  • Click Add
  • Group Name: Bridge
  • Grouped WAN Interfaces: ptm0.1
  • Grouped LAN Interfaces: P5/EWAN
  • Click Apply
• Configuration -> Wireless -> Basic
  • Wireless: Disable
  • Click Apply

WiFi Client Limit of 16

By default the WiFi max client limit is set to 16. This can be changed if required:

• Configuration -> Wireless -> Advanced
  • Set 'Global Max Clients' to something higher, up to 128.

Support for Baby Jumbo frames (1508)

This was a standard feature in the original BT supplied ECI and Huawei modems. This means that a PPP ethernet router which supports RFC 4638 can run with an MTU of 1500.

We're not yet sure if the 8800NL supports an MTU of 1508, but we have asked (February 2017)

One of our customers reports that the 8800NL R2 doesn't support Baby Jumbo frames when tested in bridge mode using firmware 2.52.d1 (March 2017)

PPP session ID cache bug 'packet accelerator'

One problem we see with Broadcom based routers is that they have an internal feature which is a 'packet accelerator' which causes problems when a PPPoE session finishes and a new one starts. Ethernet frames containing IP packets with the same source and destination IP and port combination that were used in the previous session are received with the PPPoE Session-ID from the earlier session.

Our understanding of this, having talked to Huawei is that the problem is with the 'packet accelerator' feature in the Broadcom chipset. It is caching frame headers including the PPPoE Session-ID, but not checking if the Session-ID is the same when searching for the entry in the cache for subsequent packets. Unplugging the ethernet cable momentarily resolves the problem - that action must trigger a cache flush in the Broadcom chipset.

We're not yet sure if the 8800NL has this 'feature' enabled, but we have asked (February 2017)

One of our customers also reports that the 8800NL R2 doesn't appear to have this bug (March 2017)