[Devil-Linux-discuss] Devil Linux wireless Access Point - now working - here's HowTo

[K.G.H. N. <kg...@tt...>]

Hello, all, and thanks for your attention and help.  It became clear my wireless card was not easily capable of being an access point under Linux, and I found little advice about setting Devil Linux up with an Ad Hoc wireless service.  So, I took the advice of a helpful person at Devil-linux-discuss (a wonderful group) and bought a used Linksys Wireless G (WRT54G ver6) router on eBay.

Last night I got the Access Point working, and as I had to draw together many sites' and manuals' info I will share with you how I ended up doing it.  (By the way, the 85 page Linksys router's manual on its CD is amazingly good, with lots of vocabulary definitions and background information.)

My goal:  to provide secure wireless access to our network behind our Devil Linux gateway-to-the-Internet dedicated firewall machine.  All devices using fixed IPs, including our ADSL connection.
	My solution:  I set up a Linksys WRT54G (Wireless G) router as an Infrastructure Access Point on an CAT5e wired network.
	Here we go:

***Changing the WRT54G's IP disables access via your browser until the computer's IP is changed to match the first three groups of numbers (with netmask 255.255.255.0), so I did that last.***
1) The WRT54G should not be connected to the LAN during initial configuration.
2) Connect a standalone computer's Ethernet into one of the four WRT54G LAN ports (not its Internet port.)
3) Reset the WRT54G by holding its reset button for 15 seconds with power connected.  Wait for the power light to stop blinking.
4) (Win2000pro) CtrlPanel >> Network & Dialup Connections >> RtClick Ethernet >> click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) >> click Properties >> set IP address to 192.168.1.3 ...OK OK, minimize window.
5) In Firefox or Internet Explorer enter URL/Address 192.168.1.1 and give Username (none) Password Admin, Linksys config utility now showing.
6) Setup Basic Setup:  Internet Connection type Automatic Configuration - DHCP, Router name [optional name], domain name [optional name], DHCP server DISABLE, set time zone ...Save settings.
7) Setup DDNS disable, MAC disable, Advanced Routing Operating Mode ***ROUTER***, Dynamic Routing Disabled, no static routing ...Save settings.
8) Wireless SSID [name], SSID Broadcast [enable for now] ...Save settings.
9) Wireless security mode WPA2 Personal/AES (best security compatible with Wii), key [10 chr hex string] ...Save settings.
10) MAC filter disable, Advanced Wireless Secure Easy Setup DISABLE ...Save settings.
11) Security leave defaults alone, Access Restrictions leave disabled, Applications & Gaming leave disabled.
12) Administration set new password, wireless access web enable, remote management disable ...Save settings.
13) It will ask you to login again.  Enter new password for continued access.
14) Log disable, config management BACKUP to file.
15) Status - firmware version should be v1.02.7 build 011, Jul. 27.2009 (as of 12/2009)  I updated our firmware with the file from Linksys' site.  It was easy.  I did plug the router into a UPS for the procedure.  Updating did not lose my saved configuration.
16) Return to Setup - Basic Setup. Change Local IP Address to one in your fixed-IP LAN range...Save settings.  It says "Settings are successful. Please release/renew IP. "Close" button doesn't work in Firefox, but does close IE.  (The release/renew business is for DHCP IP addresses, you can ignore that if you are working with fixed IPs.)
17) Restore the Network window, go back to TCP/IP properties (see step 4).  Set IP address to the machine's proper one in your fixed-IP LAN range.  OK OK
18) Unplug WRT54G's power cord, wait 20 seconds.  While you are waiting, plug an Ethernet cable into one of your LAN's ports and one of the WRT54G's LAN ports.  (NOT the Internet port.)  Replug the WRT54G's power cord, wait for the power light to stop blinking.
19) The machine should now have net access, and the WRT54G's WLAN light should be lit.  Entering the URL of the WRT54G's Local IP Address should make it ask for the (new) password, and the Linksys config utility then shows.
20) Once all the wireless user devices are configured & working, I believe we can disable SSID Broadcast for greater security without disturbing user connections.  I plan to do this.

The Wii is happy and my kids downloaded some game demos on it last night to prove it works.  One advantage to this configuration is that the Access Point can be connected to our LAN anywhere, it doesn't need to be connected to the ADSL modem or live in the room with the ADSL jack. 

Good luck to anyone with a similar project.  I hope this post helps.
KGHN