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#1 2005-04-28 12:44:06

thegnu
Member
From: Brooklyn, NY
Registered: 2004-05-04
Posts: 280
Website

Suggestions for T1 router and wireless access point?

Hey guys.  I'm reconstructing a shoddy network at a client's office, and I'm looking for a little guidance.  The office has about 10 people in it, four of them running a Remote Desktop connection.  They have a mixed T1, and it's hooked up to Linksys router, which in turn is hooked up to a D-link switch and a D-link access point.

My goals are:
1. Make the network rock-solid (I've had to reset the equipment before).
2. Increase security.
3. Have really solid wireless.
4. Add VPN capabilities.

Do you guys have any suggestions?  I have done only SOHO networking, and haven't ever toyed with this kind of situation.  I don't want to leave it how it is, and I don't want to buy something that will just be overkill.  For the wireless, I'm looking at the [url=http://reviews.cnet.com/Netgear_WG302_ProSafe_802_11g_wireless_access_point/4505-3243_7-30619007.html?subj=Netgear+WG302+ProSafe+802.11g+wireless+access+point∂=rss]Netgear
wg302[/url].  For the router, I'm looking at the Adtran NetVanta 3205. What suggestions do you have?  I needs help.

EDIT: The other thing I run into is the whole interface module thing.  I can never tell with some stuff whether the product will actually DO what it's advertiseing, or it just supports a module that does it.

Thanks!  big_smile


fffft!

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#2 2005-04-28 14:57:06

phrakture
Arch Overlord
From: behind you
Registered: 2003-10-29
Posts: 7,879
Website

Re: Suggestions for T1 router and wireless access point?

I'd say when it comes to brands, don't touch DLink - go either linksys or netgear...

for wireless, get 802.11g and make sure it supports WPA - debatably more secure than WEP....

Also, go gigabit ethernet - it'll pay off (my home network is gigabit roll)

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#3 2005-04-28 17:39:15

soloport
Member
Registered: 2005-03-01
Posts: 442

Re: Suggestions for T1 router and wireless access point?

I second the D-Link de-recommendation.  Howerver, Linksys has given me grief, too.  Netgear's pretty solid.

As far as WiFIs go, I've had the best luck with Belkin gear (esp. their latest 802.11g -- and the pre-N is also sweet!).  Lock it down with WPA and add the "accept only these MAC addresses", if you can.  Don't bother hidding the SSID.  There's little security in doing that, if you have WPA set and exclusively accept MAC addresses.  Plus if you hide the SSID, it'll be harder to troubleshoot problems.

Use a really long WPA passphrase --- something memorable.  (No, don't use "something memorable"; Use some passphase that you'll remember later big_smile )

If you want to greatly extend the range of your WiFI, convert to bridge mode (in all cases) and use the same SSID, thoughout -- in fact make all bridging access points identical in every way (except for accepting each other's MAC address).  Do not complicate things by using the "router" part of the WiFI.  If you already have a router, just dumb-down the router to be strictly an Access Point or bridge.  (Funny how APs are now the same price as WiFI routers  roll )

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#4 2005-04-28 22:36:59

lanrat
Member
From: Poland
Registered: 2003-10-28
Posts: 1,274

Re: Suggestions for T1 router and wireless access point?

Take a look at linksys wrt54gs router with wireless and builtin switch.
You can install a lot of customized linux distros on this hardware starting from http://www.sveasoft.com (controversial due to licensing) to http://www.openwrt.org (which is probably the closest to arch - very small basic installation, KISS, package manager, useful packages including vpn and ipsec stuff, good forums, howtos, etc.).

There are also many more specialized distros for this hardware just search for linux and wrt54g in google (http://www.batbox.org/wrt54g-linux.html, http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/LinksysWRT54GS). Openwrt also supports different hardware but it was designed originally for wrt54g routers.

Another popular solutions are based on integrated mobos, atheros hardware and linux but I have no experience with this.

And there is more cool hardware you could use :-) :
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2005548492.html
not excluding commercial solutions (hardware + software):
http://www.station-server.com

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#5 2005-04-28 22:43:23

phrakture
Arch Overlord
From: behind you
Registered: 2003-10-29
Posts: 7,879
Website

Re: Suggestions for T1 router and wireless access point?

wow - openwrt looks really sweet - makes me want to go buy a wrt just to mess with...

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#6 2005-04-29 18:47:49

thegnu
Member
From: Brooklyn, NY
Registered: 2004-05-04
Posts: 280
Website

Re: Suggestions for T1 router and wireless access point?

phrakture wrote:

wow - openwrt looks really sweet - makes me want to go buy a wrt just to mess with...

Yes, yes.... smile  :x   :evil:  :twisted:

If I had more than 48 dollars right now, I'd go right out and buy one.  But alas, I must eat.


fffft!

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#7 2005-04-29 21:21:09

lanrat
Member
From: Poland
Registered: 2003-10-28
Posts: 1,274

Re: Suggestions for T1 router and wireless access point?

Maybe there is something cheaper that will work with openwrt ?
http://openwrt.org/OpenWrtDocs/Hardware … WrtDocs%29
AFAIR Buffalo hardware should be cheaper. If you only want wireless you could also use linksys access point (not the router).

BTW the interesting thing is you can run kismet on the router and use archlinux with kismet as a client :-)

Anyway, the price of wrt54g/wrt54gs should go down quickly because there are new versions released by linksys like wrt54gx :-)

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#8 2005-05-06 13:20:01

thegnu
Member
From: Brooklyn, NY
Registered: 2004-05-04
Posts: 280
Website

Re: Suggestions for T1 router and wireless access point?

lanrat wrote:

Maybe there is something cheaper that will work with openwrt ?

I was just saying that thing about the money because I made a purchase for a client of $379 that got charged twice, and for about a week I had $1 available on my credit card, and -$230 in my checking.  So things were a little rough.

But I'm gonna run out and get a WRT54G in the next couple of days now, to test it out.

Thanks everybody for the tips!

Oh, and something I ran into while considering openwrt:
http://www.nata2.info/humor/flash/switchlinux3.swf


fffft!

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