Wired VPN Router+Wireless Router

max12590 · 17-03-2006, 06:05 PM

Ok, I have been doing upgrades to my network en masse and I think I am ready to tackle a VPN. So, my simple solution is to buy a wired VPN/Firewall Router. But, I still need to have wireless access. So, my question is, can my current wireless router (Linksys WRT54G) be configured as simply an access point? I haven't looked around the web interface too much but I think if I just turn off the DHCP and let the wired router do the work I will be fine. Is this the case? I can always buy a wireless access point but I don't really want to if the router will work just fine as one.

StimpE · 17-03-2006, 05:23 PM

I believe you can make the wireless router an access point, disable the dhcp server on it, and just let the VPN router be the dhcp, give the wireless router it's own IP, the rest you should be able to figure out. That's basically what I did with my network.

Addis · 17-03-2006, 10:09 PM

Yes most wireless routers have the option of making it act as an AP only. This makes all the adjustments easily with one option change.

max12590 · 18-03-2006, 02:43 AM

Well, I went on the Linksys site and it basically said what StimpE did. Unfortunately mine does not have the AP option but the instructions were to turn off DHCP and out the router on the main one's subnet. If I do this I will also disable the firewall.

StimpE · 18-03-2006, 05:58 AM

Who needs firewalls anyways

max12590 · 19-03-2006, 01:25 AM

Well the wired router I am getting (if I get it) is going to be the router/firewall/vpn endpoint so I don't need the other one. It would probably just cause problems having two. Buuut, I might also use this SME server that AT suggests. I downloaded it and am thinking about using it but I will need to buy a hard drive if I do. I assume that turing off the DHCP on the router would let me do this. I only have one ethernet card so I would have integrated going in and the PCI card going out, and then have the router functioning as a switch and wireless AP. Would that work ok?

Anti-Trend · 19-03-2006, 03:20 AM

If you just want a firewall / edge-router, avoid SME and go for IPCop or m0n0wall. If you want an all-in-one network server that shares files, handles e-mail, and also acts as a web gateway, SME is a good option. But SME's firewall feature set is very limited compared to a distro which is designed to act as a firewall. IPCop also handles VPN connections amazingly intuitively, while in SME this is a much more manual process (and troublesome if you don't know both Linux and networking very well, although probably easier than IPSec in Windows).

Another important thing that you must do for one router to exist behind another is to set your default route. A default route is that next hop towards the internet, so your wireless router would use the internal IP of the wired router as its default route. Otherwise, your packets will not reach the Internet from your WAP.

max12590 · 19-03-2006, 02:59 PM

Is IPCop fairly easy to set up and use? I have used Linux before but my knowledge is fairly limited. I used Mandrake as the only OS on my computer for a few months, but my wireless card wasn't supported so I gave up on it. Maybe I will reinstall it now that I have run Cat5e areound my house. But, back on topic, it needs to be simple.

Anti-Trend · 19-03-2006, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max12590

Is IPCop fairly easy to set up and use? I have used Linux before but my knowledge is fairly limited. I used Mandrake as the only OS on my computer for a few months, but my wireless card wasn't supported so I gave up on it. Maybe I will reinstall it now that I have run Cat5e areound my house. But, back on topic, it needs to be simple.

IPCop requires no prior Linux experience. It is installed and initially configured via ncurses GUI, then once it's setup the machine no longer requires a video card, monitor mouse or keyboard (assuming your PC can boot without them). At that point, you would do any other configuration over the secure web GUI. The only knowledge required to setup IPCop is enough networking knowhow to properly configure a router.

max12590 · 20-03-2006, 02:21 AM

Excellent, I'll have a go at it as soon as I get the time to.

17-03-2006, 06:05 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
max12590 Masterful Geek Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 17 Male Posts: 1,016 Times Helpful: 76 Status: Offline My Computer	Wired VPN Router+Wireless Router Ok, I have been doing upgrades to my network en masse and I think I am ready to tackle a VPN. So, my simple solution is to buy a wired VPN/Firewall Router. But, I still need to have wireless access. So, my question is, can my current wireless router (Linksys WRT54G) be configured as simply an access point? I haven't looked around the web interface too much but I think if I just turn off the DHCP and let the wired router do the work I will be fine. Is this the case? I can always buy a wireless access point but I don't really want to if the router will work just fine as one. __________________ In the words of a certain Battlefield 2 commander, "They're spawnin' like crazy at the Gas Station and then tryin' to Forrest Gump it down the Interstate."

17-03-2006, 05:23 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
StimpE lol, Internet! Join Date: Jun 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 683 Times Helpful: 38 Status: Offline My Computer	I believe you can make the wireless router an access point, disable the dhcp server on it, and just let the VPN router be the dhcp, give the wireless router it's own IP, the rest you should be able to figure out. That's basically what I did with my network. __________________

17-03-2006, 10:09 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
Addis The King Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 5,255 Times Helpful: 403 My Mood: Drunk Status: Offline My Computer	Yes most wireless routers have the option of making it act as an AP only. This makes all the adjustments easily with one option change. __________________ Never trust a program you don't have the source code for. My website \| Powerful Desktop Linux \| Linux for human beings \| Linux for power users \| Linux for ricers

18-03-2006, 02:43 AM	#4 (permalink) Top
max12590 Masterful Geek Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 17 Male Posts: 1,016 Times Helpful: 76 Status: Offline My Computer	Well, I went on the Linksys site and it basically said what StimpE did. Unfortunately mine does not have the AP option but the instructions were to turn off DHCP and out the router on the main one's subnet. If I do this I will also disable the firewall. __________________ In the words of a certain Battlefield 2 commander, "They're spawnin' like crazy at the Gas Station and then tryin' to Forrest Gump it down the Interstate."

18-03-2006, 05:58 AM	#5 (permalink) Top
StimpE lol, Internet! Join Date: Jun 2005 Age: 19 Male Posts: 683 Times Helpful: 38 Status: Offline My Computer	Who needs firewalls anyways __________________

19-03-2006, 01:25 AM	#6 (permalink) Top
max12590 Masterful Geek Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 17 Male Posts: 1,016 Times Helpful: 76 Status: Offline My Computer	Well the wired router I am getting (if I get it) is going to be the router/firewall/vpn endpoint so I don't need the other one. It would probably just cause problems having two. Buuut, I might also use this SME server that AT suggests. I downloaded it and am thinking about using it but I will need to buy a hard drive if I do. I assume that turing off the DHCP on the router would let me do this. I only have one ethernet card so I would have integrated going in and the PCI card going out, and then have the router functioning as a switch and wireless AP. Would that work ok? __________________ In the words of a certain Battlefield 2 commander, "They're spawnin' like crazy at the Gas Station and then tryin' to Forrest Gump it down the Interstate."

19-03-2006, 03:20 AM	#7 (permalink) Top
Anti-Trend Nonconformist Geek Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 27 Male Posts: 4,879 Times Helpful: 535 Status: Offline My Computer	If you just want a firewall / edge-router, avoid SME and go for IPCop or m0n0wall. If you want an all-in-one network server that shares files, handles e-mail, and also acts as a web gateway, SME is a good option. But SME's firewall feature set is very limited compared to a distro which is designed to act as a firewall. IPCop also handles VPN connections amazingly intuitively, while in SME this is a much more manual process (and troublesome if you don't know both Linux and networking very well, although probably easier than IPSec in Windows). Another important thing that you must do for one router to exist behind another is to set your default route. A default route is that next hop towards the internet, so your wireless router would use the internal IP of the wired router as its default route. Otherwise, your packets will not reach the Internet from your WAP. __________________ See My Desktop \| Try Linux \| Install Linux \| Visit My Server \| Support Hardware Forums \| Easily rip DVDs in Linux \| Remember Everything

19-03-2006, 02:59 PM	#8 (permalink) Top
max12590 Masterful Geek Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 17 Male Posts: 1,016 Times Helpful: 76 Status: Offline My Computer	Is IPCop fairly easy to set up and use? I have used Linux before but my knowledge is fairly limited. I used Mandrake as the only OS on my computer for a few months, but my wireless card wasn't supported so I gave up on it. Maybe I will reinstall it now that I have run Cat5e areound my house. But, back on topic, it needs to be simple. __________________ In the words of a certain Battlefield 2 commander, "They're spawnin' like crazy at the Gas Station and then tryin' to Forrest Gump it down the Interstate."

20-03-2006, 02:21 AM	#10 (permalink) Top
max12590 Masterful Geek Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 17 Male Posts: 1,016 Times Helpful: 76 Status: Offline My Computer	Excellent, I'll have a go at it as soon as I get the time to. __________________ In the words of a certain Battlefield 2 commander, "They're spawnin' like crazy at the Gas Station and then tryin' to Forrest Gump it down the Interstate."

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
USB Broadband Wireless router	zakk02001	Networking and Computer Security	2	21-02-2006 05:33 PM
Wireless Router Question	nebraskathomas	Networking and Computer Security	5	01-12-2005 03:30 PM
???wireless networking without a router???	peanut	Networking and Computer Security	3	09-08-2005 05:34 PM
Wireless router question	hnv801	Networking and Computer Security	2	04-04-2005 03:51 PM
Microsoft Wireless Router	mr.carciero	Networking and Computer Security	2	01-12-2004 04:51 AM