WAP ... which one?

[ME]

I have and own a LinSys, which has/had a security hole in the firmware. If
the latest firmware does not fix the hole, you can expect a new revision
to do so. (The hole recently found did not exist in earlier Linsys
firmware according to LinkSys and they suggested downgrading your firmware
until they resolved the issue.) Other than the occasional Security issue,
my LinkSys has worked raher well.

My brother owns a D-Link and he finds he does not get as good range from
it as he does with my Linksys.

Our work has and uses Cisco AiroNet Wireless Access points, and I find
they are the best for use and range.

Many Linksys include detachable antenna, but finding the correct external
antenna to connect to this is a feat in itself.

The Cisco also has detahcable antenna, but they also sell external antenna
and gain attachments.

Most (if not all) Dlink seem to have fixed antenna, so you have little
opportunity for later alteration.

All use a kind of firmware.

The LinkSys and Dlink *likely* do not implement a fully complete RFC
compliant TCP/IP stack suite. (Many vendors will ct corners on this stuff
due to space availavle in firmware to implemental features.)

Of these three, best is Cisco, but most expensive. :-(

Then LinkSys (based on use and comparison with the D-Link.)

Finally the D-Link.

For me, security is not so big a deal. I was sharing my DSL with the
LinkSys on a private net that was NAT/Masq behind a Linux box, and on its
own subnet. The Linux box was a router/firewall/filter for 5 networks at
my house, and wireless users could not speak to any of my house machines
and could only pass through the gateway.

One limit you have (giving further reason for error's comment on using a
Linux box as a wireless AP) is that holes in filtering code and security
for the unit are left for the manufacturer to fix. If the manufacturer no
longer wants to support the old unit and instead wants you to buy the new
one, then you are SOL with a closed box.

For me, my linux box had the security where I wanted it, and I did n ot
mind outside users using my Wireless access point to share my internet
connection. If anyone abused it, then I could deal with it after the fact.
For me, even if they owned the Access Point, my router/filter is where i
imposed the network security anyway. Because of this, I still like an use
my LinkSys.

I dont know of any home-user-router vendor who has a spotless record for
security in their access point/routers. Dlink has had problems, as have
Cisco and LinkSys. It seems LinkSys has had more "issues" than others, but
they also have had more features than others.

HTH,
-ME
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  Campus IT(/OS Security): Operating Systems Support Specialist Assistant


Mark Street said:
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> I am looking for a Wireless Access Point for my internal network.  I am
> going  to stick with 802.11b... and of course it will be on a mixed
> Linux network of  Debian, RedHat, SuSE.  Any recc. for brands.  I was
> looking at the D-Link  DWL-900AP+
>
> Thanks,
> - --
> Mark Street, D.C.
> Red Hat Certified Engineer
> Cert# 807302251406074
> - --
> Key fingerprint = 3949 39E4 6317 7C3C 023E  2B1F 6FB3 06E7 D109 56C0 GPG
> key http://www.streetchiro.com/pubkey.asc
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