Linux Wireless Networking

Linux Wireless Networking

In This Chapter

• Wireless Linux-Compatible NICs

• Common Wireless Networking Terms

• Networking with Linux Wireless Tools

• Networking with Linux-WLAN

• Troubleshooting Your Wireless LAN

• Wireless Networks in Businesses

• Conclusion

My very first Linux web server was an ancient desktop computer that I bought from a secondhand store that advertised it as being "very obsolete." It was cheap and it worked, but it was ugly and noisyso noisy that it quickly became too loud to tolerate. Spending more money than I should have on the antique, I made it wireless so I could take it out of my bedroom where the DSL connection entered my apartment. Looking back, I really did it for the challenge, and also because we all get stupid some of the time. I thought wireless Linux would be easy, but at the time it wasn't. I had so many headaches with it that I thought one of my very first Web pages should be about my little nightmare warning people about how to do it right. This was how www.linuxhomenetworking.com was born. This is the chapter about what started it all.

Wireless networks using the 802.11 standard have many advantagesnot just the aesthetic one I mentioned. The hardware is commonly available, and wireless networks offer relatively easy and low cost deployment with security that's becoming increasingly better. Before you consider making a Linux server wireless capable, however, make sure you purchase a NIC that is Linux compatible. You also need to decide on the wireless Linux package you intend to use: Linux-WLAN or Wireless Tools. Wireless Tools is more convenient to use as it requires fewer configuration steps and the RPM package doesn't have to be reinstalled every time you upgrade your kernel as with Linux-WLAN. The packages support different NICs, so do your research before proceeding. Don't worry; I will explain all this later.