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General software and network General OS-independent software and network questions, X11, MTA, routing, etc. |
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Any wifi enthusiasts here?
I am here with a rather simple task. Make a wireless network.
The details: The company property is pretty small, a 30 x 150 foot yard surrounded by a U-shaped house. The task is to build a hotspot not just for our staff but also the customers. For this, I have an account printer here. It can create one-time accounts which last from 30 minutes to two hours. A user types a url in her browser, is redirected to the loginpage and so on. Now, this system is based on an SMC gateway, the access points are supposed to be d-link wireless access points. So, does someone have an idea on how to do this the best way? I am rather now to wireless stuff.... |
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I'd suggest setting up a *BSD-based firewall/router/gateway/AP to front for your network, and just disperse the blackbox access points to maximize your coverage. A primarily *BSD-based solution (OpenBSD preferred but the other BSDs can do the task equally well) will give you security, stability and enormous flexibility in terms of what you can implement, relative to sticking with the SMC APs.
Wireless networks made simple: (OpenBSD) Wireless Networking: (FreeBSD) Have fun.
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BSD, Eggdrop and the random Blah |
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Linksys, Buffalo networking gears are cheap, much better hardware specs, durable and fully customisable. OpenWRT firmware is for those are proficient in *nix and DD-WRT for the rest. Once installed, they become almost real "mini server". For your task, they would be RADIUS server (only OpenWRT), repeater wireless mode (both), iptables (both)
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The power of plain text? It can control an entire OS |
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This might be a useful read for you if you're interested in using a Linksys AP. One thing I do recommend doing is getting, or even making, a high-gain set of antennae - depending on the area you want to canvas or the amount of interference it could make quite a difference.
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Since I have a DLink Wireless N router and Gigabit hub at home, why should they be avoided??
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"The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words." -Philip K. Dick |
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I experienced all the above issues and they are also confirmed by most Dlink users. You dont have those issues? Perhaps what you bought are hi-end networking stuff and they are treated differently, I dont know Btw, the bloody Dlink 302G I owned 2 years ago can only be configured in IE. How pathetic! |
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Reg /T |
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No one single vendor is the best across the board. Pick and choose your products, though, and you can find excellent items from everyone. D-Link was one of the first to offer real 802.11g products based on Atheros chipsets (ie, they worked in every OS out there, with native drivers, with all the capabilities of the standard, and then some extras). Their DI-624 wireless router is still one of the best I've ever seen or used (for home purposes, nothing comes close to Colubris for business use). They also have some of the best customer support, especially when it comes to replacing things on warranty (received two replacements for my DI-624 over the course of the three year warranty). They're also one of the few home products vendor to offer real warranties, over 3 years instead of 1. Using an onboard wireless NIC, a NetGear PC-Card NIC, and a D-LINK PC-Card NIC (all with Atheros chipsets) and a D-LINK router (also with an Atheros chipset), I have one the most stable, most reliable, fastest 802.11g wireless networks around. Does everything I need it to (Internet access, stream videos from the server upstairs to the tv via the laptop, play music off the server upstairs to the stereo via another laptop, transfer files, etc) without issues or hiccups. Works in Windows XP Pro SP2 (gf laptop), Xubuntu 7.04 (media laptop), Kubuntu 7.10 (work/media laptop), FreeBSD 5/6/7 (work laptop at various points in time). Haven't used any D-Link products since they've refreshed their product line (and changed the colours of everything to black and orange) so can't comment on their current products. But at the time that 802.11g was getting big, and Atheros chipsets were the top-end, there wasn't anything better than a D-Link. Last edited by phoenix; 30th June 2008 at 10:35 PM. Reason: Expand on things a bit more. |
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I just got these two DLink products. Before that I had used Linksys and Netgear. The linksys stuff I could only configure with IE, so that used to drove me crazy. So when I upgraded to an N router I chose Netgear. It worked great for 6 months. I could configure it with Opera on FreeBSD and everything was lovely. Then one day, the wifi stopped working.
I went with DLink because it was on sale and it had a linux logo so I figure it would be accessible via FreeBSD. It works and has cause me any grief 4 months in so far. The wireless N router doesn't have all the nice routing option of the Netgear. Now a friend of mine just gave me a Belkin wireless N router because he moved. I haven't check out it's features yet.
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"The basic tool for the manipulation of reality is the manipulation of words. If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use the words." -Philip K. Dick |
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As they used to say at the Pike's Peak Hill climb, you "Run what you brung". In my case I am killing two birds with one stone. When I subscribed to Vonage I opted for the Motorola router with multiple Ethernet connections and the WiFi function. I now have my iMac and an old lappie working nicely. The laptop is so old that it does not have WiFi built in. I use a card. As soon as I remember to pick up a card for my other box I'll have three going (maybe).
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I recently purchased a netgear wnr834B wireless router through Tigerdirect.com which i would recoomend as it is the only router /forewall aimed at the home and small business level.
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Google Linux is a Green Horns Best Friend (GHBF). Windows = a 32 bit extensions to a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit operating system originally coded for a four bit processor written by 2-bit monopolistic software company founded by a .3-bit Harvard Drop out, who can't stand one respectable bit of competition. If I believe something to be immoral a will not keep quite and let my voice of annoyance be heard loud and clear. |
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Linksys just released a new version of their Linux-based access point, with full support for Tomoto and DD-WRT included. I forget the model number (WRG14L or along those lines I believe) but it was just listed in one of the computer magazines that came out this month.
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