Bill Kearney wrote:
>> What I think I want is for the wireless router to employ a pass through
>> DHCP call to the first router so that it is in effect, one network.
>> Again, I am not well versed in this so it is a trial and error.
>>
>> Am I making this too complicated in my mind?
>
> Yes, sort of.
>
> You're on the right track regarding having one DHCP server if you're going
> to have just one subnet. If you're using WPA security on the WiFi then it's
> not unreasonable to use just one subnet. But if you're going to leave the
> wifi unprotected it's a good idea NOT to have it on the same subnet. It's
> OK to do this (assuming you want to share the wifi or something) but it's
> not without adding configuration work.
>
> When you tack on wifi to a wired network the 'simplest' way to do it is as
> an access point. That way it's just a connection, not a routing point. It
> merely passes the DHCP packets onto the wired network. It's common to also
> disable all server 'features' on the wifi router and let it operate just as
> an access point. Then plug a wired connection from the existing network
> into one of the LAN ports on the wifi router. This to avoid any features
> that might depend on using the WAN port on the wifi router. This works
> pretty well.
>
>> The question on hardware really was more about what someone might
>> suggest given the goal of reliability. Just looking through the online
>> descriptions of routers, I have seen some of the routers described as
>> having QoS functionality... should I be looking for things like this?
>
> QoS is great, if you've got all devices involved supporting it. That
> includes the uplink gear at your ISP. It's a way for higher priority
> traffic to get passed through faster in the event of other activity. This
> is important for stuff like voice over IP. But it's not going to be
> terribly useful if your ISP isn't also supporting it. Sometimes the router
> hardware will be better in order to support the features (more CPU speed,
> ram, etc).
>
> -Bill Kearney
>
This is an interesting topic as I have a similar situation.

I have a 4 pc HPNA network that I've had for years. I needed this
because in my high rise apt, there is no way to run cables, however we
have phone outlets all over. Never a problem and the interconnection and
WWW speed is full tilt.

I now got a laptop and wanted to attach it to the "wired" lan, and
accomplished this with a USRobotics wireless router in addition to
installing a USB wireless dongle on the closest PC, not the gateway as
it has the router connected. The gateway PC, so to speak, is simply
there to connect to the ISP/VOIP/Wireless router and is there to always
maintain an internet connection.

My laptop can wirelessly connect to the PC with the dongle but can't
always get into the LAN. I sometimes use VNC for that and it works
pretty well.

Is there a simpler way to achieve this project so that My HPNA LAN
remains as is and the laptop connects wirelessly into that lan to share
files, printing and such. I know I can go wireless completely, but at
the moment I have other projects to work on.

Thanks in advance for any advice....

burris