[isf-wifidog] IPs + SSIDs

Mina Naguib webmaster at topfx.com
Lun 16 Mai 20:40:29 EDT 2005


On 16-May-05, at 8:30 PM, Gabe Sawhney wrote:

> Ok, so I know this isn't Wifidog-specific, but it's something that you 
> guys will definitely have experience with:
>
> We're preparing for a relatively big install next week -- 4 routers.  
> Reading the emails from Michael about his setup in Winnipeg, it sounds 
> like a similar (but smaller) situation.  There were two methods 
> proposed:
> a) the 'gateway' router is the only one with a connection on the WAN 
> port.  It is the only one with wifidog, and the only one assigning 
> DHCP addresses.  The other routers each have a static IP in the same 
> block, and act simply as bridges.
> b) the 'gateway' router has the "real" net connection on its WAN port, 
> and all the others plug their WAN port in the the 'gateway' router's 
> eth ports.  Each of the bridge routers assign DHCP addresses in a 
> seperate IP block.
>
> Which did you eventually do, Mike?
>
> And which is the "better" solution?  I like the simplicity of the 
> first one; what are its drawbacks?  I should also be able to "chain" 
> them, right?  Like, rather than plugging them all into the gateway 
> router, I can plug them into each other?
> Secondly, do I need to use unique SSIDs?  I would've thought that I 
> don't need to, but for some reason my OS X Powerbook only wants to see 
> one network called "wirelesstoronto" even if there are several routers 
> (each on a different channel) with that name.  One the one hand this 
> is fine -- it makes it easier for the user.  On the other hand, it 
> makes it more difficult for me to know which one I'm connecting to.  
> (I can see them all in MacStumbler, and can which one I'm connected to 
> by cross-referencing the MAC address.)
>
> Is there anything else in this setup that I should be aware of?  
> Thanks!
>
> Gabe

We have a similar setup to "a" in Centre St. Pierre.  I also recommend 
that setup (a) compared to (b).

There's less routing and setup to do with "a" than "b" - as a matter of 
fact, you don't even need to re-flash the external leaf APs with 
OpenWRT - you can leave the default firmware on to have simple bridging 
behavior.

There's also the possibility of getting the leaf APs to act as WiFi 
clients to the main AP (while still acting as AP bridges themselves!). 
This avoids the need to run ethernet between them and the main AP 
running wifidog.  Philippe set that up so you'll have to ask him for 
details.

If they all have the same SSID then, in theory, roaming between them 
will work without dropping existing connections.   The small price to 
pay for that setup is, as you've mentioned, not being able to clearly 
see which AP you're connected to except via MAC address.




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