Just a question about the setup at my job!

[thedrifter]

Ok here is the thing. I took over this job about a year and a half ago. I am the head tech here now. Not the boss but the head tech. And from the day i started i have been busy as hell. Things are finally slowing down and i was going around to the wireless routers and checking the firmware and updating and so on. So we have linksys routers around the school for wireless. I didn't set them up the person i replaced set them up. Now i have had some of the routers that just went bad. So i set them up and i went though the whole thing. and they are working fine. so as i was going around the school today checking on them. Some of the routers are set as gateways. Now the ones that are setup as gateways are hooked up funny. On the back of the routers we have 5 ports, 1 internet (in) 4 out. The gateway routers have a wire from the wall to the out port, instead of the IN/internet port. Now my question is why is it like that with the ports? and what is the major difference with having the routers set as gateways vs routers? all the wireless routers i setup are all plugged into the in/internet port and work fine. I know the difference with the gateway and router. but i never learned or read up on what are the advantage of the two, like the pros and cons. So any info you have please let me know! thanks guys

[YeOldeStonecat]

That's a bandaid method of converting a wireless router...to just an access point.

You disable DHCP on the wireless router..since you don't want a bunch of different DHCP services running on the same network.

You change the LAN IP address of these wireless routers..to be in the same range as your network/primary router...but not conflicting. Example..primary router is 192.168.1.1, you set the other wireless ones to be up high where often access points are..such as 192.168.1.245, 192.168.1.246, etc.

You uplink these wireless routers to your main network using a LAN port...not the WAN/Internet port. Thus bypassing the NAT..you're not using the routing/gateway features at all. So..basically you've converted it to just an access point. Why do it this way and not simply purchase access points in the first place? Good question...but..we often run across this a lot. And...home grade wireless routers trying to a business grade job....may want to consider some more business grade APs down the road. Or at least see if these Linksys models you have are versions which can be flashed with DD-WRT 3rd party firmware...which ads a LOT of features..including special AP modes.

[thedrifter]

yeah thats what i want to do is upgrade them to business access points. i hate these routers working this way. there is always a problem. I want to set it up in a way where the whole building is setup to be on wireless and no matter where you are in the building you will not drop your connection. My school use to be like that. you would see the little antenna on the walls and no matter where i was at i was still hooked up to the same network. i need to learn how to do that. there is no way i can do that with theses wireless routers right?

[YeOldeStonecat]

You can do it "somewhat" with those wireless routers...although you won't be able to get a fully roaming feature. Meaning...as you walk around with your laptop....the laptop will briefly disconnect from one AP and reassociate/connect with the next one that you're walking towards.

I'm going to guess the units you have are Linksys wrt54g routers? If so..depending on the version...you may be able to flash them with DD-WRT firmware. You can get some better stability/uptime, a little bit quicker performance, and a bit stronger signal with them. As well as some better WDS features.

[TonyT]

and a bit stronger signal with them
If not careful using 3rd party firmware that can adjust signal strength, you could fry eggs!

[thedrifter]

You can do it "somewhat" with those wireless routers...although you won't be able to get a fully roaming feature. Meaning...as you walk around with your laptop....the laptop will briefly disconnect from one AP and reassociate/connect with the next one that you're walking towards.

I'm going to guess the units you have are Linksys wrt54g routers? If so..depending on the version...you may be able to flash them with DD-WRT firmware. You can get some better stability/uptime, a little bit quicker performance, and a bit stronger signal with them. As well as some better WDS features.

yes your right i do have a wrt54g v.2 i am going to look up that dd-wrt firmware and see what i can find! i would like to do it that way i am just sick of all these different numbers all over and not knowing which ones is where and then the next day it gets moved. i wish they would hire a head of tech that knows what they are doing!

[YeOldeStonecat]

If not careful using 3rd party firmware that can adjust signal strength, you could fry eggs!

Yeah..default Linky output is 29 I think...with DD-WRT, and some others..you can crank it up to 200...or maybe a bit more. However..what most people don't realize..is it's actually useless to go too high...counterproductive even. It gets too "noisy" going above 85...sort of like when you turn up a cheap stereo system too loud...it sounds awful. I usually just bump them up to 55 or so.