Re: Need help setting up a roaming wireless network

"derrick.williams@xxxxxxxxx" <derrick.williams@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>I have read other threads and it looks like I will need one router and
>multiple access points in order to obtain smooth roaming without
>connection loss/session interruption. These should be set on
>non-conflicting channels with the same SSID, subnet and WEP

I've made this work with Linksys WAP54g APs and a random router
(twice), though not every client may do the same kind of 'seamless'
roaming. I know you don't have any control over your guest clients,
but I've had good luck with Intel 2200BG cards.

I'd use WPA, as it's easier to {set,change,publish} passphrases, and
it's much more secure. If someone shows up with a laptop that doesn't
have a WPA supplicant, too bad for them.

>(1) How in the heck will I connect all this stuff in order to get the
>true 'roaming' effect? I have seen posts stating that all the AP's
>must be hard wired into the one router, but that seems like ALOT of
>wiring and extra work just to obtain smooth roaming WiFi in the office.
>Let alone it would seem to defeat the purpose of 'wireless.' There has
>to be a way for all this to connect without having to run tons of new
>cable in the ceilings and walls.

I'd only do it that way. It's possible to almost get something
similar to mostly work properly most of the time using APs and
repeaters, but it's going to be slow and buggy, and you mention that
you want this to work flawlessly.

>(2) Will I be able to disable the SSID broadcast and still obtain the
>roaming effect? I would like to keep the possibility of eavesdropping
>as minimal as possible.

SSID broadcast doesn't increase security, and will cause problems
roaming. Instead of seeing a better AP, the clients will wait till
they've completely lost the far AP before searching for another one.

>(4) With all these AP's running through one router I would think the
>load would be pretty heavy at times and I don't want this to crash or
>freeze during peak traffic, so what suggestions can you provide on
>hardware?

Linksys is nice, I've had trouble with every SOHO router hanging with
too much traffic (OSLT), but that was with Aezurus running on a FIOS
line, and I don't suspect you'll have many guests running file-sharing
programs...

Stay far from DLink products. Far, far away. Run screaming when
anyone mentions them, or you'll be doing way more of
http://gallery.compusmiths.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=Pine-Cay-Summer-2004-Picture-Of-The-Day&id=S45_1541
than you want to. 8*)

Consider powering the APs with Power-Over-Ethernet solutions, so you
can power cycle them all from a single location, you can have
everything run off a single UPS, and you won't have to run/find power
in the ceilings for the APs. Linksys POE solution isn't 802.3af
compliant (thought they claim it is), but it's a lot cheaper than most
other POE products, and as long as you keep it away from other non-POE
hardware you should be safe.
.

Relevant Pages

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