802.11g Recommendations and Reviews 1

[BoulderBum]

I'm preparing to network several of my computers at home and am looking into what to buy. Sorry if these are dumb questions, but I need to know.

If I'm using my main rig as a server, what I want is an wireless router and the proper NICs on all my systems, correct? I noticed there are DSL/Cable routers too, but I assume these just share a direct internet connection. I'm wondering about this because a point of confusion I'm running into relates to what the differences between the routers are.

I can still share a connection with the normal wireless router, right? Additionally, I can implement greater security through a centralized firewall if I choose to run the connection through my server, and out to the router, correct? Is the advantage of the DSL/Cable router simply that a central computer doesn't need to be running for the connection to be up?

Also, do any of you Tek-Tippians have any recommendations or references to side-by-side comparisons of competing 802.11g vendors? I've read that there are some issues with some systems because the hardware for the protocol is relatively young in development.

 

[ceh4702]

If you dont have any hardware yet, I would recommend a single Router with the wireless access point (WAP) built in. If you do not use a router then you have to have a primary PC with 2 NIC cards to act as a proxy server. Linksys, D-link, and Belkin are three brands that come to mind.

Might look for a Networking forum like

http://www.homenethelp.com

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[BoulderBum]

Thanks, ceh.

That site is pretty sweet. Star for that.

Another thing, I don't suppose you know the standard topology of a web farm? I'm looking for a scalable solution where authentication and security are handled at a centralized location (for a site I plan to build). Would I NEED a proxy server for that?

I'm also using the set-up for network programming tests and connection sharing, but I need to think long-term solution here.

 

[snapem]

For the network check out Buffalo kit price is good and the setup is easy to do.

As for the web site you would be wise to look at Microsoft Internet Informtion Server. This is if you plan to host it your self!

Otherwise the Broadband router Buffalo kit has NATS and DHCP. so all your web proxy solutions would be solved.

 

[CitrixEngineer]

The US Robotics Wireless Access Point + Router (808054) does 100MB/sec so is worth considering over the Buffalo - the cards are cheaper even if the access point is a couple of £ more.

HTH