Ralph Becker-Szendy wrote: > So I'm going to set up a network router / firewall / general home > server (DNS, DHCP, NTP) using a 5501-70 card. In addition to normal > network server duties, it will also do some monitoring of industrial > control-type equipment, using both serial and USB interfaces. One of > the goals is low power consumption (the current machine is a 2U > rackmount with 1GHz Pentium, which is mostly idle, and uses about > 50-60W, plus I need a separate wireless AP for the house). > > Non-default equipment will include > - a 2.5" hard disk (initially a former 80GB laptop disk, I'll try to > get a 24x7 rated 2.5" or 1.8" disk drive later), > - a miniPCI wireless card (because this machine will also become the > wireless AP for our house), > - and a 4-port USB card. > ...> > This brings up the question: What wireless miniPCI card to pick. I None!
Use the Soekris as a router and buy any Access point you like and connect it to the Ethernet running it in bridging mode. Pros: You get it cheap and configured as a bridge you don't have any problems getting a driver configured You can locate the soekris where it makes sense - somewhere near the internet uplink, while putting the AP where it makes sense for wireless coverage - up high seems to be the generic advise The OpenBSD is still being the firewall, router, DHCPD, nameserver etc. Whenever there is a new faster AP - just buy and plug in, no changes to router/firewall You can make use of things like WDS to extend coverage to your whole house etc. - I have three Apple Airports with only one connected to Ethernet, this covers the house, in front and backyard :-) Cons: you dont get to have fun with a drill and it will probably only take you a few hours of getting it to work :-) I have used Soekris, OpenBSD and wireless cards for several years - trust me, you dont want to spend that much time messing with wireless cards in access point mode on the soekris and OpenBSD :-) - while of course you SHOULD mess with cards in your workstations running as clients. :-) Best regards Henrik -- Henrik Lund Kramshøj, Follower of the Great Way of Unix [EMAIL PROTECTED], +45 2026 6000 cand.scient CISSP CEH http://www.security6.net - IPv6, sikkerhed, netværk http://e-learning.security6.net - gratis kursusmateriale _______________________________________________ Soekris-tech mailing list [email protected] http://lists.soekris.com/mailman/listinfo/soekris-tech
