[Cialug] [OT] Private LAN connected to building WLAN for InternetConnectivity

[Claus]

Thanks John for the setup explanation.  I think I know how it set things 
up now if we decide to go that way.

The scary part is that I did get confirmation that the wireless routers, 
yes there are multiple, will be connected wireless to each other.  I 
doubt we'll be lucky enough and have the modem near us.

I think things would work but the question is how good and if it's good 
enough.  I can see our office having three computer users that want to 
use the Internet and their traffic is going through one single 54Mbps 
wireless pipe that hops through several routers.  Most of the time the 
connection probably will be fine as we're the heavy computer/Internet 
user in the building.  However I see days were the building is busy with 
other internet users, or a major Windows service pack is out and people 
download huge amount of data that we get the short end of the stick 
since we squeeze all our users through that single wireless pipe.

Is that a valid concern and is that what I should be worried about or am 
I missing something else significant?

   Claus


On 3/25/2008 3:43 PM, John Roach wrote:
> Keep your existing infrastructure in place, and then replace the wan
> connection to your firewall from the DSL connection with a Linksys WET54G.
> This is a low cost wireless Ethernet bridge.
> 
> If you are using your current DSL modem for firewall and Nat, you will want
> to also purchase a wap/firewall and use the bridge as the wan point.
> 
> Feel free to drop me a line of list if you need part numbers etc...
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cialug-bounces at cialug.org [mailto:cialug-bounces at cialug.org] On Behalf
> Of Tom Pohl
> Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 2:26 PM
> To: Central Iowa Linux Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Cialug] [OT] Private LAN connected to building WLAN for
> InternetConnectivity
> 
> Since it's a building wide wireless network, I'd assume that there  
> will be more than 1 access point covering the building.  Since that  
> is probably the case, they will need to wire those access points  
> (unless they go all wacky with WDS or something in which case I'd  
> stick with your 1.5MB connection).  Could they possibly wire a line  
> to your office's location so you're not on the wireless network?
> 
> -Tom
> 
> On Mar 25, 2008, at 2:17 PM, Claus wrote:
> 
>> I'm the technical guru for a non-profit organization that is  
>> considering to switch from its dedicated DSL to a building wide  
>> shared network.  The idea is that we'd be saving about $30 a month.
>>
>> Currently we have a wired network and a wireless WPA network which  
>> is used by 4 desktop computers, one laptop and a samba file server.  
>> Internet connectivity is provides a 1.5 mbps Qwest line through an  
>> Actiontech modem.
>>
>> Under the proposed model the Internet connectivity would be  
>> provided by a 7 mbps Quest line that's shared wireless throughout  
>> the building with all tenants and visitors.  The building's  
>> wireless network will be open to all.  The wireless routers are  
>> rented from Qwest and are supposed to be "industrial".  (BTW, I'm  
>> not responsible for the building wireless network.)
>>
>> I imagine that we still would need to keep our private LAN in order  
>> to use the samba/windows shares without having to worry that  
>> everybody can access our data.  Since we also have a laptop that  
>> will need to access the samba shares we need our own protected WLAN  
>> as we currently do.
>> So I was thinking about setting one wireless router up as a bridge  
>> to the buildings wireless internet, providing us internet access,  
>> NAT, DHCP, and hopefully some control on what ports are open/cosed  
>> (aka poor man firewall/packet filter).  Another wireless router or  
>> access point would be set up for our WLAN.
>>
>> My questions:
>> - Which router would be recommended to run as a wireless client and
>>   provide Internet connectivity, NAT and DHCP for our local LAN?
>> - What pitfalls might I encounter?
>> - Is is a bad idea to rely on an open wireless network for Internet
>>   access?
>>
>> Setting up Internet connectivity through a wireless network for a  
>> wired LAN is something new to me.  So I'm very grateful for your  
>> help and input.  Thanks,
>>   Claus
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