This may be a very simple question, but how exactly do I “interface” or configure a Linksys wireless router with our RouterOS v3.9x gateway machine.
I have fiber coming into my hanger which gets converted via media converters and then runs into a Linux box with RouterOS installed on it. There are 4 NIC’s installed in the Linux box with one accepting the incoming feed and a 2nd one that goes out to a 16 port HP switch and from there to my LAN (all hardwired).
The outgoing NIC which feeds the switch is 192.168.0.1, so all the other wired machines are static assigned with .2, .3, etc.
I have read though the manual, but cannot find what I need. I know there is wireless support, but I think that is for on board PCI/PCMCIA cards and adapters. Since I have two other NIC’s assigned to nothing, is it possible just to plug the WAN side of the Linksys WiFi router into one of those cards and assign IP’s for the NIC and the WAN side of the LInksys or is it a bit more complicated than that.
I was given the Linksys and only wish to use it with my laptop, so i just need a static route or something to that effect.
If you’re trying to just use the Linksys as a wireless access point, then it should be fine to plug it in on the wan side (so long as you either set it to DHCP-Assigned or a Static) then NAT (Masquerade) all traffic comming from the wireless AP as that address (This is done by default on most accesspoints for you.)
MAKE SURE That you setup security on the wireless accesspoint thou, unless you like sharing all your files and internet with anyone in the area
The accesspoint becomes a completely seperate device on the local network and you really shouldn’t need to add anything extra to the mikrotik to get it working. You could however if you wanted to, add a wireless card into the mikrotik itself and use it as the local AP.
Thank you for your response. I probably should have asked this question as well, but here goes.
I am assuming when you said plug the WAN side of the Linksys Router into the Mikrotik box, you meant to plug it directly into an unused NIC installed in the Linux box and setup that card with a static address (I don’t use Dynamic anywhere) and assign the WAN side of the Linksys a different address…all within 192.168.x.x OR
plug the WAN side directly into my HP Switch?
And yes, all I want to use it for is just a basic access point for the laptop.
What you said above sounds correct for your setup.
Eg: assign a spare NIC on the Mikrotik(Linux) box with the IP address 192.168.1.254/24 and set the linksys to 192.168.1.253 with a gateway of 254
Ensure that if you have a public address on the wan side of the mikrotik, that you add a NAT (Masquerade) rule into the ip->firewall->nat section, to masquerade for any traffic coming from 192.168.1.0/24
actually it does not matter where you put your devices, most important is how much BW you are using, and will 1 port suffice.
i would suggest to do NAT only once on main box, and route your local network, does not matter how many and what kind of devices you set up, just add sub-netowrks and off you go.
about adding WIFI card to your box with routeros - well, it is really easy to configure secure wireless on RouterOS, but thats totally up to you.