When doing consulting, I've set up dozens of wireless networks in companies using specialized Avaya or Cisco gear with a central network unit and tens or hundreds of APs attached to it so there is one SSID and everything works flawlessly no matter where someone is.
However, with the economy the way it is, I have a company that had been purchasing a ton of various Linksys and TrendNet WAPs (or routers that can be used as WAPs). I would like to set them all to the same SSID, and I've read recommendations about using different channels, but the biggest issue is: they use an F5 software client on their laptops to form a VPN connection into their secure environment.
I haven't tried it yet (I don't want to waste my client's time and money), but I was wondering, will the VPN still work if I use different WAPs set to the same SSID? (So that people can walk anywhere in the building and still keep their VPN connection?) Right now, if they move their laptops, they have to detatch from one SSID, attach to a new one, and then relaunch their entire VPN connection from scratch.
So to summarize:
-Newer, but inexpensive, Linksys and TrendNet hardware
-All WAPs on same network with same gateway (and even on the same switch)
-All WAPs on same VLAN
-DHCP provided from a dedicated DHCP server
-Users want to be able to walk around the building and still maintain their network and VPN connection. A brief interruption is fine as long as both will work.
Does anyone know if this will work, or do I need to buy the whole Avaya setup again? (Which they really want to avoid).
Thanks
DiamondLOD
However, with the economy the way it is, I have a company that had been purchasing a ton of various Linksys and TrendNet WAPs (or routers that can be used as WAPs). I would like to set them all to the same SSID, and I've read recommendations about using different channels, but the biggest issue is: they use an F5 software client on their laptops to form a VPN connection into their secure environment.
I haven't tried it yet (I don't want to waste my client's time and money), but I was wondering, will the VPN still work if I use different WAPs set to the same SSID? (So that people can walk anywhere in the building and still keep their VPN connection?) Right now, if they move their laptops, they have to detatch from one SSID, attach to a new one, and then relaunch their entire VPN connection from scratch.
So to summarize:
-Newer, but inexpensive, Linksys and TrendNet hardware
-All WAPs on same network with same gateway (and even on the same switch)
-All WAPs on same VLAN
-DHCP provided from a dedicated DHCP server
-Users want to be able to walk around the building and still maintain their network and VPN connection. A brief interruption is fine as long as both will work.
Does anyone know if this will work, or do I need to buy the whole Avaya setup again? (Which they really want to avoid).
Thanks
DiamondLOD
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