Home network Consulting Question

[ConwayJim]

Hey guys/gals

I currently have 4 computers hardwired to a standard 4 port router; now i'm in the process of getting my hands on a notebook; and would like to take advantage of it's wireless portability (ie, do some work sitting outside on the porch).

Currently the router is under my parents bed (after some renivations last year they decided to place their bed right on top of the router).

Would it be ok if i purchased another wireless router and daisy chained it my ethernet cable in the basement (would i notice a loss in performance?)

What are your suggestions.

Thanks again

[Bogie]

Just use one router. Put the wireless one under the bed, replacing the old one :d

[ConwayJim]

if i buy a 4 port wireless router and use all 4 hardwired ports, can i still add additional wireless connections?

[Nic]

if i buy a 4 port wireless router and use all 4 hardwired ports, can i still add additional wireless connections?

Yes.

[Bogie]

A router, in theory, can have a total of 256 computers hooked up to it by using hubs. The wireless part of the router is like one giant hub.

Word of caution: make sure to enable WEP and put in an encryption key. Instructions should come with your router. Simple security process, and will prevent outside users from accessing your wireless connection.

[networkguy]

Yes you can hook the wireless router to the wired one, no there should be no loss in performance.

As for security, Bogie is giving you good advice, I however would not use WEP, its to easy to crack, so instead there should be an option to use WPA-TKI which is just as easy to setup as WEP but offers stronger encryption and is therefore safer. I am not saying that it is likely that someone will crack your encryption if you use WEP just suggesting a better alternative. Also be sure to change the defualt SSID to something obscure, the default for linksys is linksys, so change it to something else, not your last name. Also be sure once you have changed the SSID and got your laptop configured and working wirelessly, to turn off SSID broadcase and make sure that DHCP is turned off on the wireless router too.

NG

[ConwayJim]

ok, great help guys.

Thanks to all for the quick responses :)

[Nic]

If DHCP is turned off the computers will not be able to connect once the lease expires on their IP addresses. If you want to run with with DHCP off you would need to use fixed IP addresses (possible), or set the lease to not expire (if you can with a Linksys).

With DHCP off should you add a new computer, DHCP would need to be turned back on to get an IP assigned, unless using fixed IPs in which case you configure it manually on the computer.

[ultrabuzz]

On the side note...
If one wants to, is willing and capable of breaking your encryption, turning off dhcp, not broadcasting ssid, mac filtering, etc ain't gonna stop them from using your net.

[networkguy]

Yes of coure, but WHY would someone want to? Security isn't about ultimately stopping somone, because we all know, with enough time and resources, anyone can break any security measures. Its about prevention, make it not worth the persons time to bother breaking in, when there are far easier targets.

NG

[ultrabuzz]

Yes of coure, but WHY would someone want to? Security isn't about ultimately stopping somone, because we all know, with enough time and resources, anyone can break any security measures.
Agreed. I was just trying to point out that enabling encryption, be it WEP or WPA is usually enough. In my opinion, there is no point going through a hassle of hiding ssid, mac filtering, etc. on encrypted wifi networks simply because it's not going to hold a hacker back once encryption has been compromised.

Its about prevention, make it not worth the persons time to bother breaking in, when there are far easier targets.This I don't fully agree with. See, easy targets are not always on hackers mind. In fact, I'm told the more challenging the task is, the better.

[networkguy]

Depends on the level of the hacker, the more experienced hackers will want a more challenging target, sure, but that does not mean the more vulnerable, easier to hack targets won't get exploited either.

I always change the default SSID and I don't broadcast it, along with WPA, which I prefer over WEP, but isn't always an opiton on older wireless routers, this should be enough. I don't go to the extend of specifying MAC addresses, etc, however I wouldn't discourage someone from doing it if they wanted.

NG