[CVALE] Getting my Ubuntu Box out of the kitchen.

Fri Oct 9 22:39:03 PDT 2009

Terry, I've used DD-WRT in both bridge mode and wds mode with success.  
There are some gotchyas (which I don't remember offhand) with more 
complex scenarios, so it's best to have a clear idea of your needs and 
how you want to engineer them, then read through the docs that relate to it.

    -Patrick

Terry wrote:
> I occasionally have a need to wirelessly connect two different sets of computers to each other (same 
> subnet).  Usually just temporarily for a few days or weeks.  I have a pair of Linksys WAP11 access 
> points I use in "bridge" mode for this.  I don't usually need the speed so their 802.11b works for 
> me most, but not all of the time.
>
> I often wish I had a few more of these to temporarily connect a set of impromptu remote computers I 
>   

> set up that I want on the same subnet.
>
> Patrick mentioning bridging mode for DD-WRT peaked my interest.  Tonight looking at the wiki pages 
> on DD-WRT, it appears the software supports modes such as bridging, wireless repeater, WDS.
>
> Has anyone run DD-WRT or OpenWrt in these modes?  Does it work well in these modes?
>
> My brief experience with these projects was years ago, before their "1.0" releases and some features 
> didn't work well in those early stages of the projects.
>
> I still have several WRT54G routers in various stages of disassembly and could put a few back 
> together to create a few more pairs of "bridges" if DD-WRT or OpenWrt would work reliably.
>
> In the past I had found it difficult to find a router/access point in a store that supports 
> "bridging".  I've found that the description of a router's functions that are printed on it's 
> packaging can be very misleading as terms such as "bridge" are used very loosely.  And listing a 
> standard on the box (e.g. 802.xxx) doesn't mean that it supports the features of the specification 
> you need.
>
> For Landon:  I must have the same model house you have with only the two phone outlets.  :-)  For 
> the last 2 weeks in the bedroom I've had one WAP11 connected to a router that is connected to a DSL 
> "modem".  The second WAP11 is in another area connected to a router that has 3 computers hooked to 
> it.  Thus for the last couple weeks I've been getting Internet access via DSL from computers that 
> are not near a telephone outlet.
>
> Note that my use is often to bridge multiple devices on each side of the same subnet.  Landon 
> probably only needs to "bridge" a single device and NAT (two networks) is probably okay in his case.
>
> Please respond if you've used any of the "bridge" modes in DD-WRT or OpenWrt and let me know how 
> well they work. (I know about the half speed characteristic with wireless repeaters with a single 
> transmitter such as the WRT54G)
>
> Terry
>
>
>
> Patrick Bennett wrote:
>   
>> Landon,
>>
>> Yes, the "L" probably stands for "linux" - it is Linksys's product id 
>> for their non-proprietary gnu-friendly version of their WRT54G router.
>>
>> DD-WRT, like OpenWRT that Grant suggests, is a firmware replacement for 
>> many common off-the-shelf routers (like the Bufffalo brand G series 
>> routers - my preference - and the Linksys WRT54GL).  It enables vastly 
>> more capabilities into your router than comes from the mfg.  DD-WRT's 
>> website is here: http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/
>>
>> I am not recommending you buy a router to replace your old router.  
>> Instead, I am suggesting one solution to your problem of getting your 
>> Ubuntu box connected to your existing wireless router's network is to 
>> use a DD-WRT based piece of hardware, or any wireless appliance that 
>> support "bridge mode" or "bridging", to connect your Ubuntu boxes /wired 
>> ethernet port/ to your existing wireless router.  ie:
>>
>> (INTERNET) --- (existing wrt54g)   ~~~{/wireless signal/}~~~ (new 
>> "router" in bridge mode) <--> (wired nic of ubuntu box)
>>
>> This will solve your problem for in the neighborhood of 50 bucks /and/ 
>> teach you a new trick. :-)
>>
>>    -Patrick
>>
>>
>> Landon Blake wrote:
>>     
>>> Patrick,
>>>
>>> You wrote: "Is the version of ubuntu on this box recent?"
>>>
>>> I always update to the most recent version when it becomes available.
>>>
>>> You wrote: "I'd stick with the Buffalo G series routers or with the
>>> Linksys WRT54GL (that L at the end is important - you'll probably have
>>> to special order this one) to make your life simple."
>>>
>>> You wrote: "Navigating the compatibility charts of DD-WRT can be
>>> complicated."
>>>
>>> I'm not sure what DD-WRT is. I will have to do some research.
>>>
>>> What is the difference between the WRT54G and the WRT54GL? Is the "L"
>>> made especially for Linux?
>>>
>>> I really don't want to buy another router if I don't have to. It seems
>>> the router I have is working fine, just not with my Ubuntu box. :] Is
>>> there any way to determine if the problem is with the router, or with
>>> the card?
>>>
>>> I'll also post my problem on an Ubuntu forum to see if they have ideas.
>>> Thanks for the help.
>>>
>>> Landon
>>> Office Phone Number: (209) 946-0268
>>> Cell Phone Number: (209) 992-0658
>>>  
>>>  
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: cvale-bounces at lists.fire2wire.com
>>> [mailto:cvale-bounces at lists.fire2wire.com] On Behalf Of Patrick Bennett
>>> Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 10:25 AM
>>> To: cvale at cvale.org
>>> Subject: Re: [CVALE] Getting my Ubuntu Box out of the kitchen.
>>>
>>> I'm not up on which wireless nics work and which don't, however I've had
>>>
>>> really good luck with Ubuntu "just working" when it comes to wireless, 
>>> if not with the "free" drivers, then with the "non-free" ones. Is the 
>>> version of ubuntu on this box recent?
>>>
>>> As an alternative, you could use a wireless bridge, which is to say a 
>>> wireless-router-like piece of hardware that "converts" your ethernet nic
>>>
>>> to a wireless nic by plugging into your wired nic and "bridging" it to 
>>> the wireless network. You could roll your own with a WRT54GL or 
>>> Buffalo router flashed with DD-WRT or you could try to find one 
>>> specifically labeled as a bridge (or having "bridge mode" - some of 
>>> them are switchable between router, bridge, and other modes) at your 
>>> local shop or online vendor.
>>>
>>> Navigating the compatibility charts of DD-WRT can be complicated.... I'd
>>>
>>> stick with the Buffalo G series routers or with the Linksys WRT54GL 
>>> (that L at the end is important - you'll probably have to special 
>>> order this one) to make your life simple.
>>>
>>> -Patrick
>>>
>>>
>>> Landon Blake wrote:
>>>  
>>>       
>>>> The house my wife and I bought last June only has two (2) phone jacks.
>>>>     
>>>>         
>>>  
>>>       
>>>> There is one phone jack in the kitchen and one phone jack in the 
>>>> master bedroom. (There is no phone jack in the office.) There was no 
>>>> way my wife was letting me keep a computer in the bedroom, so it's 
>>>> been in the kitchen for about 6 months. My other computer runs MS 
>>>> Windows XP, and it connects to the internet via wireless router from 
>>>> the office.
>>>>
>>>> I'm finally sick of seeing the Ubuntu box in the kitchen, so I've got 
>>>> to find a way to get it connected to the net while in the office, 
>>>> without installing another phone jack/phone line. Here is my network 
>>>> set-up:
>>>>
>>>> Ubuntu Box Ethernet Controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401-BO 
>>>> 100Base-TC (Rev-02)
>>>>
>>>> Ubuntu Box Wireless Network Controller: Ralink RT2561/RT61 802.11G PCI
>>>>
>>>> Wireless Router: Linksys WRT54G
>>>>
>>>> I'm currently using WICD to connect to the wired internet on the 
>>>> broadband box.
>>>>
>>>> Any suggestions on how I get the Ubuntu box to work with the wireless 
>>>> router? I haven't been able to get it properly connected to the 
>>>> wireless router with the Ralink network card. Is there another 
>>>> affordable card that we know is supported by Ubuntu and would play 
>>>> well with my Linksys router?
>>>>
>>>> As an alternative to going the wireless route with my Ubuntu box, I've
>>>>     
>>>>         
>>>  
>>>       
>>>> got a wired Linksys Router that I am not using. How hard would it be 
>>>> to connect my Ubuntu box to the Windows XP Box via the wired router 
>>>> and connect to the internet through its wireless connection?
>>>>
>>>> I must warn you that I know just enough about networking to be really 
>>>> dangerous.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for any suggestions.
>>>>
>>>> Landon
>>>>
>>>>     
>>>>         
>>
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