Building wireless client and wireless accesspoint

[Eric Shubert]

On 01/20/2012 09:06 PM, James Dugger wrote:
> I have an interesting project request to build/configure a linux server
> as a wireless router/dhcp server for a wireless LAN but which is mobile
> itself and can negotiate for with other wireless access points (wifi hot
> spots).  This is for a small mobile office in a trailer.  The client
> wants a linux server that will function as a small light file/print
> server for wireless clients on the private LAN side, but get access to
> the Internet from outside wireless sources which may change (dhcp).
>
> I assume that it will require at a minimum 2 wireless cards one for
> public and one for private (there is also a built in ethernet on the
> small mobo.
>
> I am somewhat familiar with IPCop and want to know if it alone is
> capable of configuring this and running it or are there other
> applications that either alone or together can achieve this.

The network configuration you described is called a Wireless Repeater 
Bridge.

While IPCop might be able to handle the networking requirements (I'm 
not sure if IPCop can be a wireless repeater bridge or not), it is not 
designed (nor is it desirable for a firewall) to provide file/print 
services.

I think easiest solution for this would be to use DD-WRT. It can be 
configured as a repeater bridge (see
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Repeater_Bridge), and DD-WRT can be 
run on a wide variety of wireless devices.

While it might be possible to add samba to DD-WRT in some instances (see 
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Samba), I would recommend against 
it. Filesystem access would be at USB2 speeds, and I don't believe this 
would provide printer sharing. Samba on DD-WRT is not a pretty picture.

To provide file/print services, it would be simplest to build a 
standalone samba server for file/print sharing. This server could be as 
little as an old PentiumII machine with 256M of RAM (more ram would only 
increase file caching). I would recommend building this on a raid-1 
(mirrored) array. If more than 2G of storage is needed, you can use raid-10.

BL, let DD-WRT handle the networking requirements on a small wireless 
router device, and build a separate server host (attached to the DD-WRT 
device via ethernet) for file/print services. Remember to KISS. ;)

This sounds like an interesting project. Have fun with it!

-- 
-Eric 'shubes'