Linux - Wireless NetworkingThis forum is for the discussion of wireless networking in Linux.
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I recently acquired an ORiNOCO PCI 802.11a/b/g card, model 8482-FC. I want to make a wireless AP out of my current linux server/router, but can't seem to find a driver to make this work. Can someone help, please? Thanks!
Do not try to use the orinoco_cs driver (which never supported Master mode [access point]) or load Hermes firmware on your card. The HostAP driver will not work, either.
The 8482-FC card has an Atheros chipset - marketed by Proxim, which also acquired the original ORiNOCO technology. The are, however, very different animals.
Pardon me again, fellas. I'm finally getting around to actually doing this, and it's been a looooooong time since I installed any HW device under CL in linux.
Forgive the stupid question, but how should I install this card? D/L, unpack, install SW then HW? Or HW card first, then SW?
One final question! Not regarding linux, more wireless in general... I can put this box anywhere I want in my house. I have a basement and two floors. What is my best chance of getting a good signal in the most places (various floors and outside in the yard)? Do wireless AP's do better if they are velow, above, or even with the clients connecting to them?
I used wireless years ago and hated it, but it has improved enough to where I'm willing to try. Thoughts, please?
The signal is usually in the 2-2.4GHZ range. This should go through most house walls etc etc.
Solid thick concrete will inhibit some signal so a basement might not be a good idea for either the router / transmitter or any client (receiver) machines.
Metal will inhibit the signal so if you have huge metal windows then also not a good place in general to locate your router.
Microwaves also wreak havoc with this signal so don't have your router near your microwave oven.
Incidentally ALWAYS use some sort of encryption on your router --otherwise you'll be providing a FREE internet service to half your neighbourhood and some people aren't always very nice when they log on to other people's computers.
Incidentally the Orinoco GOLD (Lucent technolgies) 11 mb card worked straight out of the box on SUSE 10.0
I've since changed to a Linksys WPC 54g card as I wanted a faster (54 mb) card than the older ORINOCO.
To get this to work I needed to use NDISWRAPPER (from the suse 10 install CD's / DVD's) and the windows drivers from the Linksys CD.
The signal is usually in the 2-2.4GHZ range. This should go through most house walls etc etc.
Solid thick concrete will inhibit some signal so a basement might not be a good idea for either the router / transmitter or any client (receiver) machines.
Metal will inhibit the signal so if you have huge metal windows then also not a good place in general to locate your router.
Microwaves also wreak havoc with this signal so don't have your router near your microwave oven.
I appreciate the tips.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1kyle
Incidentally ALWAYS use some sort of encryption on your router --otherwise you'll be providing a FREE internet service to half your neighbourhood and some people aren't always very nice when they log on to other people's computers.
Cheers
-K
This much I know. We use "Air Fortress" at work on one of our more sensitive wlan's. $16,000, ridiculous encryption levels, and an altogether PITA, but I'll be damned if anyone's gonna break into it...
I'll be doing this, unless anyone has a better suggestion.
You mentioned above that my 8482-FC card does use the Atheros chipset. But I want to make sure since that model card is not listed at http://madwifi.org/wiki/Compatibility. Are you certain (I don't mean to question your vast knowledge, but rather want to be sure)?
On another note. Currently this box acts as my router (NAT). Eth0 gets a DHCP address from my ISP. Eth1 is set to static and serves DHCP addresses to my LAN. I recently bought a used Cisco 2611 which I am not sure whether or not I want to use as my DHCP server or not. If I do, should I remove eth0 from my server, install the wireless card and create the bridge to set it up as an AP? Or should I leave the two NIC's in the server, add the wireless, and use eth1 and the wireless as the bridge, but leave eth0 as an address for the server? Basically, what would me my best option? Three NIC's might be a bit much, eh?
Thanks!
Chris
Last edited by WorldBuilder; 08-06-2006 at 11:09 AM.
I Googled to find the chipset on that card. Use the lspci command to see for sure. Never trust an anonymous Internet geek.
Can't help you on the multiple NICs. Someone with knowledge of using mangle can jump in, or you may want to start a new post on that point in Networking. http://www.mikrotik.com/docs/ros/2.9/ip/mangle
Actually ladies and gentlemen, it has come to my attention that I am, in fact a moron. A closer look at the card itself revealed a tiny chip saying, "Atheros" on it...
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