Linux Firmware For Some 802.11b Access Points

drwho writes "This just unveiled at the BAWUG meeting tonight: Linux firmware for Access Points. Check this URL for more info. I haven't tried it yet but it looks great!" The upshot is that certain Access Points can be flashed with a stripped-down Linux system, which makes them more flexible than they'd be under the included firmware. There are even some screenshots of a modded access point booting up.

Comments

Mirror of Screenshots

[NewbieSpaz]

Here: http://kevindustries.com/screens.html

Finally

[mattyohe]

Multi-point to Multi-point works with this solution... its funny how going to linux solves my problems

Re:802.11b ?

[Hougaard]

802.11b is wireless LAN. 11Mbit (With fallback to 5 and 2). A good reference is Nokia since they produce a complete setup.

Nokia Wireless LAN

I'm using (Nokia) 802.11b for all my home stuff now. No more cables running across the floor (This is really a wife pleaser :). Even my printers are connected on a miniport (To a jet direct box) and mounted on a little mobile table.

Hardware

[Cybersonic]

in case your curious, this works on access points using the Eumitcom WL11000SA-N boards...
( ref: http://opensource.instant802.com/hardware.php )
Tested: US Robotics 2450, SMC EZconnect 2652W

Time to buy an SMC for me :)

Re:How are they doing bridging?

[irregular_hero]

The "bridging code" is standard Linux bridging. I think what you're referring to is the "Host AP" or "Infrastructure" mode of the wireless card inside the AP.

If the card is based on the Prism chipset, there's already a Linux driver that will operate the card in Host AP mode by implementing some of the functions normally present in the access point's Infrastructure mode in user space. Other things are handled by the card.

For example, the card itself will handle time-dependent functions like beacon-sending. And it will handle hardware-dependent functions like WEP encrypt-decrypt (optionally). But the association table and all the rest of the functions are part of user space.

Incidentally, you don't need the Host AP driver for your Wireless card to operate a bridged network. Oddly enough, the bridge code in the Linux kernel functions just fine with a wireless card in Peer-to-Peer mode -- it is, after all, just another interface to the kernel itself. What you won't get in peer to peer is sophisticated association handling -- that means that the signal strength meter in your wireless tools won't work exactly right in most commercial packages.

You can build an AP on a PC:

[burntfungus]

You can build a Linux Access point on a PC or laptop, pehaps even a PDA:

http://people.ssh.com/jkm/Prism2/

Bridging software: http://bridge.sourceforge.net

Re:firewall replacement

[Etyenne]

syslogd -r

Re:Can I use this to turn my old notebook into an

[burntfungus]

Yes see: http://people.ssh.com/jkm/Prism2/

Lots o links on this subject: http://wireless.pasadena.net/links.php

Re:Repeater?

[dwhedon]

Exactly correct. The mesh formed between APs is an ethernet bridge. Stations associated with completely wireless APs (that is, no direct ethernet connection) will have their packets forwarded to the destination which may involve multiple wireless-wireless AP hops. The mesh is dynamic, APs can appear and disappear and stations can move between APs without loss of service.

David Kimdon
Instant802 Networks Inc.

Linux for the Airport

[ekalb]

There is a port of linux to the Apple Airport Base Station as well. However, it requires the use of a dhcp & tftp server, as well as the Java-based Airport admin tools.