Using the Netgear MR314 wireless router for wireless bridging?

[eskowitz]

Ok, here is what I want to do.

I have a MR314 through which I wirelessly access the internet. I need another wireless access point and am wondering if I could use another MR314 (with routing/dhcp and any other extras turned off) in place of a WAP.

If my description is not adequate, here is a picture. The setup would be like this:


Computer A ---ethernet-----> MR314 +++++wireless+++++ MR314 <-----ethernet--- Computer B


Internet connectivity in this case is nonessential. All I want to do is be able to transfer files from A to B.

Anyone know if this will work?

 

[ktwebb]

Very few if any AP/Router combos have bridging capabilities. You could get another Netgear AP that has what the soho community calls "client mode". It is used as a workgroup bridge where you would still be able to use your first device, the MR314 as an AP with client associations, and have the client mode AP bridge to a wired PC or hub/switch. Not sure why you would want to buy another routing device if your not going to use the routing. I don't believe any of the Router/AP combos have a client mode either though I suppose that may not be true. You could get a Linksys WET11, a workgroup bridge to do what you want. Assuming you wanted wired connectivity. If you were trying to do this to extend your wireless LAN you would need an additional AP that would hook up to the WET11 with a crossover or to the piggybacked hub or switch.

 

[rw120555]

Is part of the diagram missing here? Why not just buy a wireless NIC for computer B? As drawn, I don't see why you need another WAP. Are there a whole bunch of other computers you are not showing or something? Elaborate a bit on what you want to do and why, and we can fill in more, but I think Ktwebb has got the essentials for you.

 

[eskowitz]

Originally posted by: rw120555
Is part of the diagram missing here? Why not just buy a wireless NIC for computer B? As drawn, I don't see why you need another WAP. Are there a whole bunch of other computers you are not showing or something? Elaborate a bit on what you want to do and why, and we can fill in more, but I think Ktwebb has got the essentials for you.

The diagram was intended to be a simplification of the network. There will be multiple computers where the "Computer A" reference is, but as I already have a MR314 with a built in switch it was easier to just label it as 1 machine.

Computer B, on the other hand, is currently only going to be 1 computer and by 1 computer I mean a network added storage device, which has no pci slots.

I could put it on a WAP, but I was hoping it would be possible to spend an extra $20 or so and get a built in switch. I don't know of any WAPs that have switches built in. (Although I could always just run a patch cable to the uplink port on a separate switch)


Hope this clarifys my question.

 

[rw120555]

As far as I know, the Mr314 will not do the trick. As ktwebb said, I think you want either a Linksys Wet11 or else a Linksys WAP11 configured in client mode. You can buy a switch separately. Much as I like Netgear, I would NOT recommend the Netgear Me102. Even though the latest firmware upgrade claims that it can be configured in Client mode, this feature apparently is not working right yet.

Let us know if that answers your Qs or if there are followups.

 

[rw120555]

Incidentally, I am not sure what a "a network added storage device" is, but if it is not a computer is there some reason it couldn't just be cable-connected to the mr314? In other words, is there some reason it can't be physically close to computer A and the router?

 

[eskowitz]

Originally posted by: rw120555
Incidentally, I am not sure what a "a network added storage device" is, but if it is not a computer is there some reason it couldn't just be cable-connected to the mr314? In other words, is there some reason it can't be physically close to computer A and the router?

On second thought, I think NAS means Network Attached Storage.

The NAS I am using is an IBM Inbusiness Storage Station.

http://commerce.www.ibm.com/cgi-bin...531&cntrfnbr=1&prmenbr=1&cntry=840&lang=en_US

Despite what that webpage says, last I heard, IBM discontinued most of their inbusiness line 2 years ago and they no longer make or support that product.

The device is basically a dictionary sized computer that is designed specifically for file serving. All it has is an ethernet port for connecting to it and no real expandability (except perhaps upgrading the hard drives). A web interface lets you raid the hard drives for mirroring or striping as well as create network shares.

An actual file server would be a better option for most people, but I got a new 40GB model on the cheap (~$150) from ebay 2 years ago.

This is for my home network and the main reason that the storage station can't be cable attached is because my Netgear Wireless router and my computers are in my bedroom. I plan to leave the storage station on 24x7 and while it isn't particularly loud, it is loud enough to cause long periods of insomnia. I have had it in my room before (a year ago) and suffered for it.

Unfortunately, my home isn't wired for networking so my only other option would be to run a long cable along the floor or ceiling into another room. I don't really want to do this as I already have a partially wireless lan.

Thanks for your input.

 

[rw120555]

Sounds like the Wet11 or equivalent is the way to go then. Alternatively, you might consider whether an extra internal or external hD would meet your needs better for maybe about the same price or even less than the wet11.

 

[Ryu]

Im 99% sure that the mr314 will not work in wireless bridge mode with another ap. To my knowledge it doesn't even have a wireless bridging option. I bought one a while back to try the exact setup you have but it doesn't allow bridging, I even called their tech support and they were pretty much clueless as to what wireless bridging was. Maybe the newest firmware allows this?

My solution was getting 2 me102 and setting them up to run in wireless bridge mode. This setup work great but it makes you have to buy the hub/switch since its not included in the ap. Another benefit of this is you can use the linksys hack to boost the signal on the ap's for better range/reception. The dlink, linksys and netgear all are oem symbol cards (i think) so they all use the same firmware. Im currently using the linksys one and everything been running well for over 4 months now.

One more suggestion if your network only consists of 2 computers, why not just get 2 usb wireless adapters? You can run them in peer to peer and it would be cheaper. Also if you plan on doing large transfers, i'd suggest going wired through put on wireless isn't that great about 300KB or so and that maximum signal strength.

 

[rw120555]

My solution was getting 2 me102 and setting them up to run in wireless bridge mode.

You got this to work??? That is funny, because just a few weeks ago I got email from Netgear that said "You can use the ME102 as the DHCP client with any DHCP server like, Win-2000 or router but it can not be used with another ME102 to create wireless bridging." I've gotten other messages from them that basically say that their latest firmware does not work as advertised. But maybe it does??? I get the feeling there is some confusion there among their tech people as to what the ME102 does and does not do. I think somebody else here recently reported that they tried to get the ME102 to work in client mode but it wouldn't. Whatever it can and cannot do, the documentation is virtually non-existent for the latest firmware upgrade. Even if it does work you'll have to guess how to do it yourself, or read the docs from other companies for similar features.

 

[Ryu]

I wasn't sure if the me102 worked correctly with the latest firmware (early may when i set everything up). But i knew that the me102 is basically the same thing as a wap11 so i used the linksys firmware. Everything works fine bridgiing the 2 me102 together. I don't do dhcp with the ap, but rather the win2k ics.

If i remember right flash to the latest linksys firmware set the 2 ap to bridge mode and then type in the corresponding mac address to the other ap. That should be all you need.

 

[rw120555]

Originally posted by: Ryu
I wasn't sure if the me102 worked correctly with the latest firmware (early may when i set everything up). But i knew that the me102 is basically the same thing as a wap11 so i used the linksys firmware. Everything works fine bridgiing the 2 me102 together. I don't do dhcp with the ap, but rather the win2k ics.

If i remember right flash to the latest linksys firmware set the 2 ap to bridge mode and then type in the corresponding mac address to the other ap. That should be all you need.

Really? I didn't know that. That is interesting, especially given all these debates about whether Netgear or Linksys is better! So what, you just downloand the firmware software, run it, and it is smart enough to change the Netgear WAP even though it isn't a Linksys? Sounds a little scary -- I wish Netgear would just get its own firmware fixed, something like this should not be necessary.

 

[rw120555]

I wasn't sure if the me102 worked correctly with the latest firmware (early may when i set everything up). But i knew that the me102 is basically the same thing as a wap11 so i used the linksys firmware.

It scared the heck out out of me, but I found the latest Linksys firmware for the original WAP11 (1.4i.1) and installed it. I also installed the Linksys software (1.7d.2.9). Since I've only got 1 working ME102, I can't tell if the new features actually work any better or not. But, I must say, the Linksys help files and user interface are vastly superior to what Netgear has. I don't understand why Netgear can't do this.

The disable ssid broadcast feature sounds great, if it works; I'll have to try it. At practicallynetworked.com, several posts were saying the best of all worlds was linksys firmware on Netgear equipment; Netgear had better range, linksys firmware and software had better features.

You're sure this is all safe? This might have have come in handy a few weeks ago -- somebody had an ME102 that he couldn't get the new features to work on, so he bought a more expensive Linksys instead. Also, can you take this a step further, and use the firmware for the WAP11 v. 2.2? It seems to be using a different numbering sequence than netgear and linksys were using earlier.

Thanks for the great tip! (Assuming it doesn't do in my ME102 tomorrow!)