Topic: SME as wireless bridge

[JJSH]

I have a Linksys WRT54g connected to broadband, providing wireless and wired access in my house. I need to have a number of machines on a different floor, which will mainly be comunicating with each other, but will also need internet access. Putting a wireless adapter in each isn't economically feasable (and they would be limited to poor wireless data transfer rates for local traffic) ~  nor is structured cabling ~ and I am reluctant to buy a hardware wireless bridge as they all seem to have poor reviews.

My idea is to build an SME 7.x server, with the 'internet' facing card a linux compatable wireless PCI device, and the 'lan' side a normal nic connected to a switch, and run it in server / gateway mode. Would this work?


Has anyone tried this? Also, what wireless chipsets does SME 7.x support natively?

All comments welcome  

[dsemuk]

This thread: http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=31622.0 may give you some idea about the direction you need to take.

Don't think you are going to have an easy ride getting a wireless NIC to work as you want in your SMEServer.

Dave

[hkgonra]

I am just curious , could you tell us why it is impossible to run a cable upstairs to connect the network ?

[tandum]

Try and find an ASUS WL-330g. It can change between an access point and an adapter at the flick of a switch. It connects to the PC via ethernet and is powered by either a USB cable or a mains power pack. Just set it up using the supplied software on a Windoze box and then plug it into anything with an ethernet socket.

http://www.asus.com.tw/products.aspx?l1=12&l2=41&l3=0&model=59&modelmenu=1

[MSmith]

Get another Linksys WRT54G with firmware version 2, 3, or 4, install DD-WRT or OpenWRT and configure it to be a wireless bridge.  Works a treat!  I did this most recently for a client whose internet service was knocked out by a hurricane; they mooched service from a friendly office across the street this way.

Google for WRT54G and "hacked firmware" and you'll learn a whole lot.

http://www.wrt54g.net/

is also interesting but they're revamping their site and it's a bit hard to navigate presently.