Home Networking Basics, part 6

Configuring the Wireless Router

Wireless networks have a whole different level of complexity and the flexibility and commands vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and model to model.

I recommend the Linksys WRT54GL Wireless Router, if you want a wireless router. The WRT54GL has a number of advanced security options. It also gives you the ability to turn off the wireless functions, which you should do if you're not going to be using wireless for a while. The older WRT54G has a great reputation, but is actually a different machine as of version 5.

Many of the same functions that you have in a wired router are also available in a wireless router, since the wireless one is just "wired plus." Wireless routers generally give you the ability to hook up four computers via wired connections in addition to the support for wireless networking.

TIP: You must have a wired connection, at least temporarily, between at least one PC or laptop and the wireless router. You use this for configuration of the wireless router. You can manage to lock yourself out from the router if you are doing this wirelessly. Some routers will also let you require a wired connection for router configuration, adding to the security of your wireless network.

Review the user manual for your wireless router to see how to set up the features on the router. The manual for the Linksys is very good. In addition, the Linksys WRT54G has an excellent guide in its configuration webpages.

See my Wireless Home Networking and Security page for more information on wireless security issues and settings. Your router manual should also discuss these issues and how to set up properly.

A wireless router can be used along with a wired router, if you like. You can use it to add additional wired ports as well as wireless ports. You can use configure it so that you can share files and printers among the wired and wireless machines.
In order to have a combined network, you must only have one DHCP server running -- either on the wired router or on the wireless router, but not on both.

A wireless router can also be used to segregate wireless computers from wired computers in your network. In this manner, you can prevent file and printer sharing and any other type of direct contact between the wired and wireless computers. You might want to do this for security reasons. For example, if you normally connect a laptop computer using an Ethernet cable, you could set segregate the networks in case someone manages to gain unauthorized access to your wireless network.

Be sure to also read my Wireless Networking and Wireless Security pages.

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