On 2 Jan 2007 11:25:44 -0800, "AlanC" <alclegg@onetel.com> wrote:

>I've discounted a single device to do both jobs for the reasons I
>outlined in the original post. Running ethernet cable from my father's
>computer to the attic is not an option hence the requirement for a
>wireless bridge. I'm simply after recommendations for a reliable
>wireless bridge from those that have experience of them.

Ok, that's reasonable. For a wireless ethernet client bridge I've
used:

Linksys WET11 - Flakey. Doesn't work reliably as peer to peer.
Linksys WPA11 - Hangs all the time. No WPA.
Linksys WAP54G - Hangs erratically.
Dlink DWL900AP+ - Very reliable but only 802.11b. No WPA.
Buffalo WLI-TX4-G54HP - So far so good. Works nice. No surprises.
3com something workgroup bridge - Complicated setup but ok.
Cisco 342 Workgroup bridge - Very nice but 802.11b only.
Cisco 350 Workgroup bridge - Very very very nice, but expensive.
Linksys something Game Adapter - Limited testing but seems to be ok.

I've also been playing with a WRT54GS v4.0 and a Buffalo WHR-HP-G54
router configured with DD-WRT firmware v23 SP2. This has a client
mode, which seems to work well enough. However, I've done no real
testing and have only been playing when I have the chance. Still, I
suggest you look into this approach as it has the advantage of open
source firmware.

>Amongst many
>others I've looked at the Linksys WET54G which sounds promising. For
>the NAS element I'm looking at either Western Digital or Buffalo and
>250GB should be ample.

Well, it's none of my business but if all you're backing up are some
financial records and maybe the usual docs, methinks a 1GB or 2GB
removeable USB flash memory thing would be sufficient for backups.
250GB would make sense if you're archiving images of multiple machines
or collecting music and videos.

I've had a bit too much entertainment with several Buffalo
Linkstations. I sold and installed 5 of them. 3 worked without much
trouble. The other two drove me nuts. The problem was that the web
interface for configuration of the server was incredibly slow. The
supplied Windoze domain authentication barely works and has some
weirdness (as outlined in the docs). The admin tools seem to only
find the server some of the time. Directory and volume passwords were
difficult to configure. Password sync with a PDC/BDC would fail
erratically.

So, I switched to SimpleTech SimpleShare 250GB.
<http://www.simpleshare.com>
The interface was quite different, more detailed, much faster, and
showed none of the oddities I found in the Buffalo products setup.
However, all is not perfect. It was a bit slower than I expected. I
had a hell of time trying to add an external USB drive. It hated my
USB flash drive. The docs are in some odd English dialect.

Here's a review which fairly well covers everything except the
filesystem specifics:
<http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=23586>

I'm not going to say recommened, but it's the best of the what I've
seen on the bottom end of the price scale. If you want to spend the
bucks for quality, see:
<http://www.snapappliance.com>

>I'm planning on the attic as there is cooling up there and whilst he's
>been broken into twice he's never had a fire and I figure that hidden
>in the attic is as secure as I can realistically make it.

If theft is an issue, I suggest you reconsider and look into
removeable backups such as DVD, USB flash drives, or external USB
removable drives. By removing the backups from the premisis, the
chances of having something happen to both the computer and the
backups is greatly reduced[1].



[1] Greatly reduced but not eliminated. In 1989, we had an earthquake
in Santa Cruz. My customers backups were in a bank safe deposit box.
Some buildings collapsed, converting the servers into scrap metal. I
built up new servers but couldn't get to the backup data for about 2
weeks while officials and attorney's debated the liability issues of
who would be responsible if we had another quake while recovering the
backups. I'll spare you the details of the bureaucratic idiocy but
it's sufficient to say that none of my customers backups are now in
bank safe deposit boxes, and are all easily accessible when necessary.


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
# http://802.11junk.com jeffl@cruzio.com
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS