i am going to get a wireless router soon and want to set it up on linux. so I was wondering if there are wireless routers that are not compatible with Linux, if so I was wondering which brand would be best or would work, I have a b/g network card on my comp. sry im new to the wireless world.

thanks

Some routers require that you configure them by cabling it to a computer running their setup program, and only provide a setup program as a Microsoft executable file.

More commonly the router is configured by a browser interface.

A router of the later type will be compatible with a Linux system. To find out the specifics of any router you're considering, go to the company's web site and look at their "setup" instructions. (The "user manual" should be available for download on their site. If not, drop the company from your list of possibilities - they, obviously, can't provide competent support.)

Suggestion: Make sure that the router you purchase supports WPA 2, and implement a WPA 2 passphrase protection scheme on your router unless, of course, you don't mind sharing you ISP with your neighbors. (Some people find it useful to run an unprotected router so they can claim that any "illegal file sharing" associated with their connection was done by someone else.)

Basically the router is not dependent on the OS. Some routers are configured by a communication port or by network. Consumer grade routers have a web interface that you can access to configure. Configuring by wireless network is not safe, not reliable, and not easy for the first time. It is best to configure the router by wired network.

You have to worry more about the NIC that the computer is using. If Linux has support for the NIC, then setting it up is easy. If not, you have a hard time setting it up. Setting up a wireless NIC is more involved than setting up a wired NIC. To setup a wireless NIC, you first have to activate it. Then scan for networks. Next connect to desire network. If the network use encryption, what kind of encryption. WEP is the easiest while WPA requires the key to be saved in a config file instead of typing in the command syntax of the utility. If you insist of using encryption for your wireless network, use WEP. Sure it can by cracked, so can WPA. I recommend do not use encryption unless you have to. Encryption can state your network as a target more than a non-encrypted network.

I suggest select a router that has MAC address filtering, stops wired network broadcasts from entering in wireless network, and can set a schedule to activate and deactivate wireless network. Another good feature that loads up a form in a web browser that asks the user for the user name and password to have access to the wireless network. This feature will give you more control who can access your wireless network and who can not with out having to use encryption and with out having to know the MAC address. If you select a router that is compatible with DD-WRT, it will give you the ability for better security between wired and wireless networks with iptables/netfilter and peer guardian.

I purchased a Linksys router that was compatible with DD-WRT. and if you do decide to swap the factory firmware for the dd-wrt firmware you won't be sorry. it does so much MORE now that I'm running dd-wrt firmware. Very nice. (not required for use with Linuc, but easily quadruples the functionality and options available in my router.)

If you decide to go that route check the dd-wrt FAQ on Router Model Suggestions..