Looking to replace my dlink wireless router with a true linux router,dns server, firewall... etc. However I would like to be able to have the new linux box handle wireless connections as well and I figure that I can't just get any old wireless card and jam it in the box and expect it to work.

Yes, I know that the dlink router could just be connected to the router in gateway mode and handle the wireless for me, but I would like to see if the linux router could do this as well.

Just trying to simplify my network a bit.

Also, does anyone have any sugguestions for a specialized linux version that makes a good router/FW/dns server/dhcp server, perferably with a web interface that I can access from anywhere in my network and possibly remotely.

Also, is anyone running a similar setup to what I mentioned above and run redundant boxes for failover purposes. And if so, how do you handle the connection to your modem (DSL). Is this even possible to do?

Thanks

I've never done this myself, but I have a few ideas. I'm pretty sure that you can do this with a regular wireless card; you just have to have the wireless software configured for RADIUS mode. You would also of course have to set up a DHCP server.

EDIT:
Sorry, but I think I misinformed you, RADIUS is used as an authentication method. Here is an interesting article about exactly what you are trying to do.

Thanks for the link. I read through it and I think that it may be a bit beyond me. What I really was hoping to find was a nice and easy linux distro that will make the setup and config easy for me.

However, it does look like any wireless nic that can work in peer-to-peer mode will work as a WAP.