Hi guys,

My mom was just as Zellers, and decided to pick up a D-Link wireless router (The 54mb one) and I wanted to know something:

Will all wireless routers work under Linux if used as wired? And if used as wireless, what wireless cards do you reccomend?

I'm asking because the stupid box says yuou need XP/2000/OSX to use it. I think they meant the stupid crapware they send you, but I could be wrong.

One more thing: How do I secure network under Linux? (I don't think just detaching the antenna will kill wireless)

Thanks guys,
Much love,
Joro.

In a wired network any TCP/IP configured host can communicate through the router. All current Operating Systems support TCP/IP.

Check out this site for wireless driver information -> Wireless LAN Support

You could also check out the LQ HCL

The wireless router will always be active (unless you turn it off). You should immediately change the default admin password, change the default ESSID, enable WPA or WEP (WPA is better ... make sure your wireless card supports it) ... and possibly disable broadcasting.

The reason for the OS specs is the software to get a non computer user to configure the router on there system. Nearly all have enough detail in thier manual or on their website to list the default IP of the lan side so one can just login to the router through a web browser to configure as needed.

As far as a card just about all would work most would make use of the windows inf driver using ndiswrapper. Tons of info here on the that. The other choices are atheros based using madwifi and others.

Brian

So to configure it, I just have to find the IP address and visit it? Will I be able to "cut-off" wireless access? I'd rather just use it for wired, until I find a working WiFi card.

Most have the option to turn the antenna off. Whether that one does it is unknown. Usually the IP for most routers will be one of the following when connected to the lan side.
192.168.0.1
192.168.1.1
192.168.2.1

If you setup the machine to get is own IP when connected to the router lan side the run this command to see what IP it got. ' /sbin/ifconfig ' or ' /sbin/route -n '. If ifconfig shows say 192.168.1.100 then more than likely it is 192.168.1.1

Brian

netgear wifi pci cards are reasonabbly good, they use teh atheros chipset so are used with madwifi