From owner-freebsd-mobile@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Jul 24 21:33:05 2008 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 805AD106566C for ; Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:33:05 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from mbennett@claritysoftwaresystems.com) Received: from mail168c2.megamailservers.com (mail168c2.megamailservers.com [69.49.111.68]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4B8A38FC08 for ; Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:33:05 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from mbennett@claritysoftwaresystems.com) X-Authenticated-User: mbennett.claritysoftwaresystems.com Received: from [127.0.0.1] (12-208-73-12.client.mchsi.com [12.208.73.12]) (authenticated bits=0) by mail168c2.megamailservers.com (8.13.6.20060614/8.13.1) with ESMTP id m6OLWsU1027160 for ; Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:33:03 -0400 Message-ID: <4888F509.6030508@claritysoftwaresystems.com> Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:32:57 -0500 From: Mark Bennett User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.16 (Windows/20080708) MIME-Version: 1.0 CC: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org References: <48877965.7080408@FreeBSD.org> <4887B5AC.3010908@claritysoftwaresystems.com> <4887D76E.2070901@freebsd.org> In-Reply-To: <4887D76E.2070901@freebsd.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Subject: Re: Wireless access points: consumer, commercial, or DIY? X-BeenThere: freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Mobile computing with FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:33:05 -0000 Sam, > FreeBSD HEAD is the only open source system that does Dynamic WDS > (DWDS). If you want to "bridge to another AP securely" it is the > really the only thing to use. I won't argue that your knowledge of the capabilities of FreeBSD wireless surpass mine, and probably that of anyone else. But I will bring up a couple of points. First, I have been watching this list and others related to FreeBSD for 2-3 years, as well as working with the O/S when time allows, which is rare. This is the first time in my recollection that I have seen the term "FreeBSD HEAD" used. What is that? It certainly isn't mentioned in the on-line documentation that I can find. I get a lot of hits when I Google it, but no real definition. Dynamic Wireless Distribution System I understand. I also understand I could setup a desktop or laptop as an AP, which is documented very well. Nothing in the docs on DWDS that I can find. Maybe that capability is automagically accomplished when two APs are setup? No, I'm a little too skeptical to believe that. When I came across dd-wrt I was actually looking for a wireless FreeBSD system embedded on an appliance. I never found one. Do you know of one? I would certainly be interested in that. dd-wrt is Linux based and I distrust Linux for many reasons, but it's sure better than the firmware that ships with most wireless appliances. Most hardware APs say they will bridge or relay to another AP, but when you dig into it a little you will find that they only support WEP encryption, which I will not use. That is a key requirement, at minimum the full support of WPA across the entire network. Thanks, Mark