Re: Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
Am 03.01.20 um 14:22 schrieb Marios Makassikis: > On Thu, 2 Jan 2020 at 14:04, Stuart Henderson wrote: >> these somewhere on wikidevi.com but > wikidevi.com was shut down 2019/10/31. > My understanding is that the operator(s) provided a db dump to archive.org: > https://archive.org/details/wikidevi > > It appears the data is "living on" on techinfodepot: > http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Main_Page > Indeed. I also didn't know that. Thank you for the info. Here's a mini bit of background: https://techreport.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=122456 https://www.reddit.com/r/networking/comments/djpmp5/wikidevi_will_be_going_offline_20191031/ https://forum.openwrt.org/t/wikidevi-going-down-soon/45299/4 E.g. this tells us that it was (at least: kind of) planned, and with pre-annoucement and safety-net for others to continue it. There is also some discussion about the alternative and even alternative alternatives, e.g. for instance: https://wikidevi.wi-cat.ru/
Re: Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
On Thu, 2 Jan 2020 at 14:04, Stuart Henderson wrote: > > On 2020-01-01, List wrote: > > Hi *, > > I am currently building a home router based upon OpenBSD. > > I therefore need some kind of WIFI Hardware. This piece of hardware > > needs to be connected over usb. > > Do you have any suggestions or recommendations ? As far as I can see > > it's pretty hard to find an antenna which is connected via USB an runs > > on a supported chipset. It is easy to get your hands on a > > realtek-chipset driven device. But urtw(4) doesn't support Host AP > > mode. Only ones that do are: athn(4), ral(4), ath(4). > > Finding those is hard. > > > > Maybe you guys know things I couldn't find ? > > bwfm(4) also supports hostap on USB devices and probably has the > least-worst performance of devices that will attach directly to > OpenBSD rather than as a separate "hardware" AP. > > These are Broadcom "fullmac" devices. IIRC there's a list of actual > devices using these somewhere on wikidevi.com but the site is > currently down so I can't check. The old "official raspberry pi > usb wifi" devices work, there should be some others (they're often > the only devices that work wifi dongles for some smart TVs that don't > have built-in wifi). wikidevi.com was shut down 2019/10/31. My understanding is that the operator(s) provided a db dump to archive.org: https://archive.org/details/wikidevi It appears the data is "living on" on techinfodepot: http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Main_Page
Re: Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
On Thu, Jan 02, 2020 at 12:56:13PM -, Stuart Henderson wrote: > On 2020-01-01, List wrote: > > Hi *, > > I am currently building a home router based upon OpenBSD. > > I therefore need some kind of WIFI Hardware. This piece of hardware > > needs to be connected over usb. > > Do you have any suggestions or recommendations ? As far as I can see > > it's pretty hard to find an antenna which is connected via USB an runs > > on a supported chipset. It is easy to get your hands on a > > realtek-chipset driven device. But urtw(4) doesn't support Host AP > > mode. Only ones that do are: athn(4), ral(4), ath(4). > > Finding those is hard. > > > > Maybe you guys know things I couldn't find ? > > bwfm(4) also supports hostap on USB devices and probably has the > least-worst performance of devices that will attach directly to > OpenBSD rather than as a separate "hardware" AP. bwfm(4) hostap mode has some issues still, e.g. you cannot actually force the channel to use. And I'm not sure whether USB devices actually support hostap.
Re: Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
On Wed, Jan 01, 2020 at 08:54:46AM -0700, List wrote: > Hi *, > I am currently building a home router based upon OpenBSD. > I therefore need some kind of WIFI Hardware. This piece of hardware > needs to be connected over usb. > Do you have any suggestions or recommendations ? As far as I can see > it's pretty hard to find an antenna which is connected via USB an runs > on a supported chipset. It is easy to get your hands on a > realtek-chipset driven device. But urtw(4) doesn't support Host AP > mode. Only ones that do are: athn(4), ral(4), ath(4). > Finding those is hard. > > Maybe you guys know things I couldn't find ? > > g, > Stephan Searching the web for AR9271 might turn up a working athn(4) USB device. A brand called "ALFA networks" made devices that are plugged via a mini-USB cable to you can place them far from your router. They also have detachable antennas. Model no. AWUS036HNA. That said, it's 2GHz only, and the firmware currently limits the number of concurrent clients to 8 (apparently this limitation could be fixed). Last I checked the USB stack still had stability issues with these devices. Putting a self-powered USB hub between the device and your router could help. Still, on USB, this is the best you could get.
Re: Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
Hello,
s...@spacehopper.org (Stuart Henderson), 2020.01.02 (Thu) 13:56 (CET):
> On 2020-01-01, List wrote:
> > I therefore need some kind of WIFI Hardware. This piece of hardware
> > needs to be connected over usb.
> > Do you have any suggestions or recommendations ? As far as I can see
>
> bwfm(4) also supports hostap on USB devices and probably has the
> least-worst performance of devices that will attach directly to
> OpenBSD rather than as a separate "hardware" AP.
>
> These are Broadcom "fullmac" devices. IIRC there's a list of actual
> devices using these somewhere on wikidevi.com but the site is
> currently down so I can't check. The old "official raspberry pi
thanks for the pointer!
last archive.org crawl from 2019-10-31:
https://web.archive.org/web/20191031174603/https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Broadcom
https://web.archive.org/web/20191031174603/https://wikidevi.com/wiki/Broadcom#tab=Wireless_chipsets
but the links to the real-world products ("adapters") do not work.
src/sys/dev/usb/if_bwfm_usb.c has:
BCM43143, BCM43236, BCM43242, BCM43569
BCM43143 was the famous rpi usb dongle. I could not find a place to
buy it anymore. The others (BCM43236, BCM43242, BCM43569) are hiding
from me, too.
Marcus
> usb wifi" devices work, there should be some others (they're often
> the only devices that work wifi dongles for some smart TVs that don't
> have built-in wifi).
>
> But as others have mentioned separate network devices are usually a
> better way to go for APs.
Re: Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
On 2020-01-01, List wrote: > Hi *, > I am currently building a home router based upon OpenBSD. > I therefore need some kind of WIFI Hardware. This piece of hardware > needs to be connected over usb. > Do you have any suggestions or recommendations ? As far as I can see > it's pretty hard to find an antenna which is connected via USB an runs > on a supported chipset. It is easy to get your hands on a > realtek-chipset driven device. But urtw(4) doesn't support Host AP > mode. Only ones that do are: athn(4), ral(4), ath(4). > Finding those is hard. > > Maybe you guys know things I couldn't find ? bwfm(4) also supports hostap on USB devices and probably has the least-worst performance of devices that will attach directly to OpenBSD rather than as a separate "hardware" AP. These are Broadcom "fullmac" devices. IIRC there's a list of actual devices using these somewhere on wikidevi.com but the site is currently down so I can't check. The old "official raspberry pi usb wifi" devices work, there should be some others (they're often the only devices that work wifi dongles for some smart TVs that don't have built-in wifi). But as others have mentioned separate network devices are usually a better way to go for APs.
Re: Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
On 2020-01-01 13:42, Zé Loff wrote: > > On Wed, Jan 01, 2020 at 08:54:46AM -0700, List wrote: >> Hi *, >> I am currently building a home router based upon OpenBSD. >> I therefore need some kind of WIFI Hardware. This piece of hardware >> needs to be connected over usb. >> Do you have any suggestions or recommendations ? As far as I can see >> it's pretty hard to find an antenna which is connected via USB an runs >> on a supported chipset. It is easy to get your hands on a >> realtek-chipset driven device. But urtw(4) doesn't support Host AP >> mode. Only ones that do are: athn(4), ral(4), ath(4). >> Finding those is hard. >> >> Maybe you guys know things I couldn't find ? >> >> g, >> Stephan >> > > In all honesty, and I've tried what you are aiming for a couple of times > in the past, it's just easier to get a dedicated AP (or a cheap wifi > router with a cable on the ethernet switch, which is usually bridged > with the wifi interface) and connect to an OpenBSD router which will > do all the necessary packet filtering (including keeping the AP/router's > firmware from reaching the internet, if needed be). IMHO this will be > stabler and faster than trying to find an adequate wifi board. And > these days you're bound to get nice perks like multiple SSIDs and > 802.11ac speeds (or whatever the latest 802.11* protocol is), which > AFAIK aren't available on OpenBSD yet. Also, note that (if I am not > mistaken) ural(4) are the only USB Wi-Fi interfaces that can handle Host > AP mode, and they only do 802.11b/g which is kind of slow by today's > standards. Agreed. Not only does the SW/HW work better, usually the best place to put an AP is not the best place to put a router. My AP is in my attic, my router is in my basement, with one chunk of CAT6 between them. Putting an important radio receiver next to a bunch of RF-noisy computers doesn't work so hot. :) Nick.
Re: Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
> I am currently building a home router based upon OpenBSD. > I therefore need some kind of WIFI Hardware. This piece of hardware > needs to be connected over usb. > Do you have any suggestions or recommendations ? As far as I can see > it's pretty hard to find an antenna which is connected via USB an runs > on a supported chipset. It is easy to get your hands on a > realtek-chipset driven device. But urtw(4) doesn't support Host AP > mode. Only ones that do are: athn(4), ral(4), ath(4). > Finding those is hard. Some older tp-link wireless usb sticks such as the ones that support up to wireless N use atheros chipsets. It may be best to look for any usb wifi devices that have some published datasheets confirming the chipset in use, in case hardware refreshes no longer use a suitable chipset.
Re: Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
I just got a Ruckus here in the US. You can just not use any of the cloud crap on it. Has PoE which made mounting it on the ceiling trivial. The OpenBSD router stays a router, and I have so many ssid options + vlans. It’s kinda crazy. Sean Typed with my thumb. > On Jan 1, 2020, at 12:39, Zé Loff wrote: > > >> On Wed, Jan 01, 2020 at 08:54:46AM -0700, List wrote: >> Hi *, >> I am currently building a home router based upon OpenBSD. >> I therefore need some kind of WIFI Hardware. This piece of hardware >> needs to be connected over usb. >> Do you have any suggestions or recommendations ? As far as I can see >> it's pretty hard to find an antenna which is connected via USB an runs >> on a supported chipset. It is easy to get your hands on a >> realtek-chipset driven device. But urtw(4) doesn't support Host AP >> mode. Only ones that do are: athn(4), ral(4), ath(4). >> Finding those is hard. >> >> Maybe you guys know things I couldn't find ? >> >> g, >> Stephan >> > > In all honesty, and I've tried what you are aiming for a couple of times > in the past, it's just easier to get a dedicated AP (or a cheap wifi > router with a cable on the ethernet switch, which is usually bridged > with the wifi interface) and connect to an OpenBSD router which will > do all the necessary packet filtering (including keeping the AP/router's > firmware from reaching the internet, if needed be). IMHO this will be > stabler and faster than trying to find an adequate wifi board. And > these days you're bound to get nice perks like multiple SSIDs and > 802.11ac speeds (or whatever the latest 802.11* protocol is), which > AFAIK aren't available on OpenBSD yet. Also, note that (if I am not > mistaken) ural(4) are the only USB Wi-Fi interfaces that can handle Host > AP mode, and they only do 802.11b/g which is kind of slow by today's > standards. > > -- >
Re: Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
On Wed, Jan 01, 2020 at 08:54:46AM -0700, List wrote: > Hi *, > I am currently building a home router based upon OpenBSD. > I therefore need some kind of WIFI Hardware. This piece of hardware > needs to be connected over usb. > Do you have any suggestions or recommendations ? As far as I can see > it's pretty hard to find an antenna which is connected via USB an runs > on a supported chipset. It is easy to get your hands on a > realtek-chipset driven device. But urtw(4) doesn't support Host AP > mode. Only ones that do are: athn(4), ral(4), ath(4). > Finding those is hard. > > Maybe you guys know things I couldn't find ? > > g, > Stephan > In all honesty, and I've tried what you are aiming for a couple of times in the past, it's just easier to get a dedicated AP (or a cheap wifi router with a cable on the ethernet switch, which is usually bridged with the wifi interface) and connect to an OpenBSD router which will do all the necessary packet filtering (including keeping the AP/router's firmware from reaching the internet, if needed be). IMHO this will be stabler and faster than trying to find an adequate wifi board. And these days you're bound to get nice perks like multiple SSIDs and 802.11ac speeds (or whatever the latest 802.11* protocol is), which AFAIK aren't available on OpenBSD yet. Also, note that (if I am not mistaken) ural(4) are the only USB Wi-Fi interfaces that can handle Host AP mode, and they only do 802.11b/g which is kind of slow by today's standards. --
Re: Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
Hello Stephan, l...@md5collisions.eu (List), 2020.01.01 (Wed) 16:54 (CET): > mode. Only ones that do are: athn(4), ral(4), ath(4). > Finding those is hard. > Maybe you guys know things I couldn't find ? i've bought athn(4) here: https://www.pcengines.ch/wle200nx.htm https://www.pcengines.ch/order.htm i am not affiliated etc... Marcus > Stephan
Re: Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
> 1. jan. 2020 kl. 16:54 skrev List : > > Hi *, > I am currently building a home router based upon OpenBSD. > I therefore need some kind of WIFI Hardware. This piece of hardware > needs to be connected over usb. > Do you have any suggestions or recommendations ? As far as I can see > it's pretty hard to find an antenna which is connected via USB an runs > on a supported chipset. It is easy to get your hands on a > realtek-chipset driven device. But urtw(4) doesn't support Host AP > mode. Only ones that do are: athn(4), ral(4), ath(4). > Finding those is hard. > > Maybe you guys know things I couldn't find ? Probably not the answer you want, but anyway: The easy way out is to buy the best possible access point you can afford, let that one handle the link-level («radio») bits, leave the TCP/IP level bits to your very capable OpenBSD box that has the access point connected directly to one of its wired Ethernet interfaces. The important thing is that way you get support for stuff that isn’t yet supported in the OpenBSD drivers such as the newer wifi version protocols (-ac or whatever they renamed it to) while retaining control over the things that OpenBSD does better using familiar OpenBSD tools. Or as some might put it, the best of both worlds. All the best, Peter — Peter N. M. Hansteen, member of the first RFC 1149 implementation team http://bsdly.blogspot.com/ http://www.bsdly.net/ http://www.nuug.no/ "Remember to set the evil bit on all malicious network traffic" delilah spamd[29949]: 85.152.224.147: disconnected after 42673 seconds. signature.asc Description: Message signed with OpenPGP
Hardware for Access Point on OpenBSD
Hi *, I am currently building a home router based upon OpenBSD. I therefore need some kind of WIFI Hardware. This piece of hardware needs to be connected over usb. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations ? As far as I can see it's pretty hard to find an antenna which is connected via USB an runs on a supported chipset. It is easy to get your hands on a realtek-chipset driven device. But urtw(4) doesn't support Host AP mode. Only ones that do are: athn(4), ral(4), ath(4). Finding those is hard. Maybe you guys know things I couldn't find ? g, Stephan
