Is pfSense what I need?

godlyatheist

It seems like computer running pfsense + AP is the better way to go as you suggested. Currently I have a single wireless router hooked up to the DSL modem and it never seems to be up more than a week. Plus, the router is right next to one of the employee and he's getting annoyed of setting right next to the router. I will give it a try then.

Mr. Jingles

I'd second what Steve and John are saying (I have to, since I learned a lot from them ;D). The link John posts I can recommend: it is exactly what I bought based on recommendations on this very fine forum, and my neighbors are wondering why the NASA headquarters (the name of my AP) is blowing away their wireless ;D ;D ;D

I have the 'Pro' version, by the way, since that is also 5Ghz. The normal one is only 2,4Ghz.

godlyatheist

Any other reliable AP maker besides ubiquiti you can recommend? All I would need is stability and QoS for the VoIP apps, no need other any fancy VPN or security stuff.

biggsy

You might find that your wireless router is far more stable if it's not acting as a router but as an AP.

I had a couple of truly awful D-link DIR-685 wireless routers that someone gave me. They got re-used as APs and are pretty solid in that role.

godlyatheist

Ok I will repurpose my router as AP for now. I just need to acquire some NIC and then I can start with this.

godlyatheist

Do I need 3 NIC total to set this up?

pfsense box - NIC 1 = WAN
NIC 2 = switch
NIC 3 = connect to wireless AP

It is possible to do this with 2 NIC?

biggsy

@godlyatheist:

Do I need 3 NIC total to set this up?

pfsense box - NIC 1 = WAN
NIC 2 = switch
NIC 3 = connect to wireless AP

It is possible to do this with 2 NIC?

If you don't want your AP to be on the switch/LAN, yes, you will need three NICs.

godlyatheist

Ok I have the AP connected to the switch right now, easier this way I think. BTW, is there a way to make the pfsense box automatically start? I have to press F1 everytime the computer boots up to start pfsense, else it just stays at the screen awaiting command.

stephenw10

Hmm, that shouldn't happen. Does it have more than one choice, F1 F2 etc?

Steve

godlyatheist

It says something like:

F1 pfsense
F2 PXE

Boot:

I'd have to wait til the office is empty to reboot to get the exact wording on the screen. It would stay that way unless I did something, like press F1.

stephenw10

Hmm, not too sure what to suggest here. Normally the boot loader should timeout and automatically select F1. Quite why it isn't I don't know. Have you changed anything in the box since you installed, like perhaps added or enabled something that provided the PXE boot option?

You could try this:
https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Remove_F1_Boot_Prompt

That carries some risk though. Make sure you know which disk you're using!

Steve