wireless HOWTO

[raindog]

let's say, i have a certain amount of PC (more than 2) at home and want to combine them all into a network. the best decision i see is WLAN.

so, the question is: what do i need to do in order to see netBook in this network and in order to share internet connection with my netBook - what kind of WLAN hub? and what kind of WLAN PC Card for netBook do i need?

any advices on WLAN PC Card for normal notebook and WLAN Card for PCs is also apreciated.


thank you all in advance, sorry for questioning it - the questions that have been already asked in some way (let's position this thread as an ultimate WLAN HOWTO for a novice... or smthng :))

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by raindog
...(let's position this thread as an ultimate WLAN HOWTO for a novice... or smthng :)) I'd like to second this request, as it keeps coming up in one form or another.

I know it's impossible to produce a definitive guide that will work for everyone, but could someone with experience of this please post a framework of the basic steps to be taken, and type of equipment required, without going into specifics of what particular brands to choose?

This would be very helpful for those of us with no experience of networking at all - the more I read at the moment, the more confused I get!

Can we take my situation as a "start from scratch" scenario? One netBook, plus 2 standalone PCs (in different parts of the building) one with broadband connection via ADSL modem.

Thanks
Julie

[diem]

I will endeavour to get this together in my FAQ.

As a starter, the list of compatible PC cards listed there now will tell you the first line in what card to get for the Psion - this is the biggest limitation.

The other parts of the equation are wireless PCI cards for the PCs, and a wireless access point to plug into the ADSL or cable modem to be the hub of your network (amongst a fair few other things!).

In theory, any wireless access point that supports 802.11b WiFi should work with any netBook-supported PC Card. There are several types of wireless access point, however . In the situation where you have no wired networking kit at present, the simplest type to get is a 'home gateway'. This will share the broadband internet connection amongst all computers within range of the aerials.

I'll get the rest together in my FAQ as soon as I can.. ;)

[WolfUK]

Yan,

Can I run the following kit past you please to see if you can tell me whether this would provide me with enough for a wireless network ...

Avaya RG-1 Residential Gateway
http://www.avaya.com/ac/common/index.jhtml?location=M1H1005G1015F2063P3148N5025
This contains a 56k modem amongst other things so I guess that I would no longer be reliant on my desktop PC for connecting my netBook to the web (I cannot currently get Broadband where I live).

Avaya Gold Wireless USB Client
http://www.avaya.com/ac/common/index.jhtml?location=M1H1005G1015F2063P3147N5017
This would be for my Desktop PC.

Avaya Gold PC Card
http://www.avaya.com/ac/common/index.jhtml?location=M1H1005G1015F2063P3146N5009
This is for my netBook.

My current set-up is simply my netBook and my desktop PC but I anticipate adding at least one more notebook PC to this, if not two plus a linux box. I am guessing that I need a gateway in addition to a wireless client for my PC but I am guessing that this means that I do not have to have my PC switched on to connect my netBook to the internet using the gateway's built-in modem.

Any help you can give would be much appreciated.

[raindog]

Originally posted by WolfUK

<skipped>

My current set-up is simply my netBook and my desktop PC but I anticipate adding at least one more notebook PC to this, if not two plus a linux box. I am guessing that I need a gateway in addition to a wireless client for my PC but I am guessing that this means that I do not have to have my PC switched on to connect my netBook to the internet using the gateway's built-in modem.


sorry, don't understand here with an additional gateway - what do you need it for? you'll have Avaya RG-1 Residential Gateway
http://www.avaya.com/ac/common/index.jhtml?location=M1H1005G1015F2063P3148N5025 which is already an access point / a gateway / a firewall.

[WolfUK]

I thought that the the PC itself would need a method to communicate with the Avaya RG-1 Residential Gateway. Does the Gateway also act as the wireless 'bit' for my desktop PC then meaning that I can forget about having to get the Avaya Gold Wireless USB Client for my desktop PC?

Sorry but I am fairly clueless about networking and when I get into wireless networks I am even worse! I want to get all this going so that I can learn about it but I have no idea what hardware I need for a basic wireless network.

[raindog]

Originally posted by WolfUK
I thought that the the PC itself would need a method to communicate with the Avaya RG-1 Residential Gateway. Does the Gateway also act as the wireless 'bit' for my desktop PC then meaning that I can forget about having to get the Avaya Gold Wireless USB Client for my desktop PC?


what you need is an access point (Avaya RG-1 Residential Gateway) and clients (it may be PCMCIA Cards - for the netBook or notebook; PCI Cards or USB Cards - for the PC). where every of the clients will wirelessly communicate with the access point, which on his turn will act as a gateway / a firewall.

at least i see it in this way :).

[WolfUK]

So, do I need a PCI Card or USB Card for the PC that the access point is attached to?

If I do then I would need the Avaya Gold Wireless USB Client in addition to the Avaya RG-1 Residential Gateway, if not then I can save myself some money! :)

[raindog]

Originally posted by WolfUK
So, do I need a PCI Card or USB Card for the PC that the access point is attached to?


access point is attached to the network (cable, etc), not to the PC.

concerning the client, you may choose whatever client you want (PCI or USB) depending on the way you want to connect the client to your PC (via PCI or USB) - which will wirelessly communicate via the client with the access point, connected to the internet via cable or whatever you have.

[WolfUK]

So, going full circle, I need an Avaya RG-1 Residential Gateway, an Avaya Gold Wireless USB Client for my PC and an Avaya Gold PC Card for my netBook. If I need to add another notebook to the network I get another Gold PC card and if I add another desktop PC I can add another Wireless USB Client.

Is this right?

[raindog]

Originally posted by WolfUK
So, going full circle, I need an Avaya RG-1 Residential Gateway, an Avaya Gold Wireless USB Client for my PC and an Avaya Gold PC Card for my netBook. If I need to add another notebook to the network I get another Gold PC card and if I add another desktop PC I can add another Wireless USB Client.

Is this right?

yes.

[WolfUK]

Great, thanks.

[brevoort]

so, the question is: what do i need to do in order to see netBook in this network and in order to share internet connection with my netBook - what kind of WLAN hub? and what kind of WLAN PC Card for netBook do i need?


Inspired by your question, and aided by some hints gleaned from messages here over the past few weeks, I was able to network my Netbook today through my wireless system.

I know very little about networking so I may get some of the terminology wrong, but some months ago I installed a Linksys Wireless Access Point/DSL Router (Model BEFW11S4). This links an ethernet cable connected desktop PC, and a wireless connected laptop using a Linksys Model WPC11 (CA) PC card. I had wanted to connect the Netbook into the system but the utter complete lack of documentation and my impression that the wireless PC card I had was not supported forestalled me until today.

I didn't think it would work, but when I put the Linksys PC card into the Netbook, and after some considerable fumbling around trying out settings and cursing the bizarre acronyms in the program dialogues, I was able to connect wirelessly to the internet.

I then installed a freeware FTP server on the desktop and was able to establish a connection so I could exchange files.

Am I correct in my understanding that it is not possible to share files between a PC and a Netbook without an FTP server connection?

If anyone wants more detailed notes on this I'd be happy to supply them.

Rick Grant

[WolfUK]

Am I correct in my understanding that it is not possible to share files between a PC and a Netbook without an FTP server connection?
Yes, you are correct I'm afriad.

[raindog]

just thought - all netBooks (even old ones) are able to participate in wireless network, aren't they? also - what exactly OS build do we need? does the drivers become more stable in the latest release?


thanks.

[WolfUK]

All netBooks are able to participate in a wireless network as long as they support the power demands of the card (the newer netBook have a more powerful PC card slot) and they are running OS build 158 (which I think is the first to support wireless networking ... earlier versions supported wired networking to an extend ... the networking software was not as robust I believe).

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by raindog
just thought - all netBooks (even old ones) are able to participate in wireless network, aren't they?As far as I know, yes. It all hinges around the OS and Build 158 is the only one that supports wireless networking. If you have the earlier version of 158, I would definitely upgrade to the latest release - there were a number of bug fixes and improvements in the re-released version.

Julie

[raindog]

2 WolfUK and netBookBabe:

thanks.

[cangiante]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by brevoort
[B]

I then installed a freeware FTP server on the desktop and was able to establish a connection so I could exchange files.


would you please tell me where you find the freeware ftp server?

[diem]

There are three freeware FTP servers for Windows that I know of:

WFTPD
GuildFTPd
Caesar

A search on Google should find you an installer.