Message-ID: <20041027110150.C84@warpix.org>
References: <20041026204508.U84@warpix.org> <417F4CAE.7050604@clanganke.de>
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In-Reply-To: <417F4CAE.7050604@clanganke.de>; from Christian Langanke on Wed, Oct 27, 2004 at 09:22:22AM +0200
Date:  Wed, 27 Oct 2004 11:01:50 +0100
Sender: os2-wireless_users-owner <os2-wireless_users-owner@2rosenthals.com>
Reply-To: os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com
From:  John Poltorak <os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com>
To:  os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com
Subject: [OS2Wireless] OS/2 based Router/AP

On Wed, Oct 27, 2004 at 09:22:22AM +0200, Christian Langanke wrote:
> John Poltorak wrote:
> 
> >Is there any chance of being able to build an OS/2 based router and access 
> >point?
> >
> >What would it need? AFAICS a NIC and device driver for the ADSL port would 
> >be sufficient although I doubt whether an OS/2 driver existed. Linux 
> >drivers are available for some cards - maybe they could be ported...
> >
> eCS V1.1. already has everything required at least for the router stuff. 
> The OEM version of ISDNPM included in that CS, a.k.a. eCSCoNet can run 
> PPP over Ethernet over every nic having an OS/2 driver. Use my Internet 
> Assistant (also included in eCS V1.1) to configure that thing half 
> automatically, otherwise you end up in configuring two rather conplex 
> ASCII config files with tons of options.

In the UK, all broadband runs over PPPoA, so I would have any protocol 
support. But even more important there are no ADSL NICs with OS/2 drivers, 
so the whole project is a non-starter. Some such NICs do have Linux 
drivers available, but whether they could be ported to OS/2 is a different 
matter.

 
> Concerning the access point, you would need a PCI (or even ISA ?) PCMCIA 
> adapter card for a desktop PC with required drivers (direct drivers or 
> socket drivers for the PCMCIA part of the adapter card). To my knowledge 
> this will be rather difficult, but there may still be an existing 
> solution available out there.

I didn't think it would be difficult to configure a PCI/PCMCIA adapter...
 
> Due to several reasons I though would recommend not to go for such a 
> aolsution, but rather buy a standalone access point with DSL festures, 
> even if is (and it does not necessarily have to be) more expensive.
> 
> First, real access points (mostly with DSL included) are cheaper than 
> 100$ (here e.g. 60 to 70 EUR for a brand new NetGear device), mostly 
> having a complete firewall and DHCP, DDNS support and other features 
> inclusive. So beside avoiding the hunt for drivers you get extra 
> functionality right away.

Cost isn't the issue here - it's simply a pet project of mine.
 
> Second, such a device will likely consume less power when running (all 
> day?).


A server runs all day anyway, so it wouldn't make any difference.

The reason I would want to have router/AP functinality in an OS/2 box is 
so that it could be used as single gateway to the Internet and act as a 
super server.
 
> Third, if you use a PCMCIA card in a desktop system, you should use one 
> with a very good bult-in or external antenna, bothmay or will cost you 
> additional money. Otherwise this solution will have poorer radio 
> characteristics than every access point that you could attach everywhere 
> at the wall. The best vertical position for an access point is the 
> highest possible, and that will be kind of a problem with a PCMCIA card 
> being plugged into a desktop PC, having no external antenna.

Are there any wireless cards which can be used with external antennas?

 
> thanx, Christian
> 
> -------------------------------------------------
> 
> Christian Langanke
> COS2E & CWSE
> Team OS/2 Ruhr e.V.
> cla@clanganke.de
> 
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


-- 
John


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