Westell 6100 DSL modem and Linksys BEFSR41 router (Verizon)

Intro

If you use Verzion DSL and have little Westell 6100 DSL modem this could be of interest for you. I used my Linksys router with older (read slower) Verizon DSL modem. Putting the two together was not a trivial step at first. Finally, while reading several posts in forums I found a nice and quick way to set things to run together smoothly.
Occasionally, I noticed my Linksys router and DSL modems get messed up (this happens very rarely, maybe once in a year or two) so I have to redo this setup. This is the main reason I made these notes.

Goal

The goal is to utilize Westell 6100 DSL modem as modem and nothing else. Linksys router will be in charge for Firewall, router, DHCP functions. It also has several ports. The similar (if not the same) steps should be applicable to Linksys wireless routers.

Setup Steps

1. Connect a PC directly to Westell modem and connect Westell modem to your phone line following the directions from Westell manual. Turn on the modem, then PC.
2. On the PC start a web browser. In the address field, enter http://192.168.1.1 to access Westell's configuration application (it has web interface). It will ask for username and password. The default credentials are "admin" and "password" (not an easy guess as it looks). In this step you can also check if your Internet is connected and works.
   
3. Now, reset Westell modem to the factory defaults by pressing its reset button and holding it for a long time (do not just press and release, it will just reset it). I think it needs to be held around 20-30 seconds (please check Westell's manual). This "hard" reset will set the modem to the factory defalts and also reset its username and password settings to default ("admin" and "password").
4. Now, change the VC configuration to "Bridge" mode (not "Routed Bridge")
5. Disable the DHCP function in Westell.
6. Check the status and write down Westell's MAC address. You will need it later on when setting up your Liksys router.
   
7. Now, shut down the PC and turn off the DSL modem. Connect the PC to Linksys router and Linksys's WAN port to Westell modem.
   
8. Turn on the modem, then the router, then the PC. Start a web browser on the PC. Now, by entering http://192.168.1.1 in the address field, you should be getting Linksys configuration web interface. It will ask for username and password.
9. Reset Linksys to default factory settings. Push the reset button on the Linksys router, and hold it for a long time (again I think it takes around 30 seconds for that, check Linksys documentation). The default username and password are nothing (or anything) for username and "admin" for password. You will need that password to access Linksys configuration at http://192.168.1.1
10. In the Linksys setup find option for Cloning MAC (click on Advance, then MAC Addr. Cloning). Here, enter the MAC address from your Westell 6100 (from step 6). There should be 6 hexadecimal numbers here (6 pairs of digits and letters).
11. You should also change Linksys password (click on Setup, then Password).
12. If your Linksys router has wireless access point, setup the security for the wireless (you do not want to keep your router accessible by anyone).

Conclusion

Everything should be working by now. Your Linksys router will perform firewall, DHCP, and other functions. Westell 6100 modem will behave only as a modem. Be advised that the Internet LED on Westell modem will be off, which is OK.