New to pfSense
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Can someone recommend a good wireless N access point that would work with my setup. Once I get the 4 port Intel NIC I could use the d-link card as my Optin card and connect the ap to that.
All and any comments greatly appreciated.
WD -
Ubiquity hardware always gets high recommended here on the forum. It's not the cheapest but it's far better than most SOHO gear.
Steve
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Ok I want to be clear on this. If I buy something like this and connect it to the Opt1 port on my pfsense box then it will do wifi for me?
http://www.a-power.com/product-26129-899-1
All and any comment or suggestions welcomed.
WD -
Yes it will. I'm not the right person to advise you on that though, I've never used any Ubiquity products. ;)
Steve
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Ok I want to be clear on this. If I buy something like this and connect it to the Opt1 port on my pfsense box then it will do wifi for me?
http://www.a-power.com/product-26129-899-1
All and any comment or suggestions welcomed.
WDI use that ap on some of my networks. It is pretty easy to configure if you have a basic understanding of wifi/networking. I connect mine to my network switches but I see no reason why using opt1 will not work. Are you trying to separate the ap network from your lan network?
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I have the UAP-AC from unifi - and can not be more happy with it. Has been rock solid, good speeds and the software controller feature is just win/win.. The AC model is a bit more expensive than their typical N model. But I wanted to play with AC and have dual band, etc.
Yes that is an AP, and can connected to your network it will provide wireless to that wired network. You do need to run the controller software atleast to set it up, then you can turn it off. But you will most likely want to run it all the time for the reporting. I do believe there was something about running the controller software on pfsense itself. But I just run it a VM.
I wish my house was bigger so I would have an excuse to run more of them ;) But 1 covers my whole house - kind of toying with getting an outside model to get better coverage in the back yard ;)
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johnpoz makes a good point about the controller software needing to be installed on a pc to configure/manage the ap. So if you do run the ap directly on opt1 you will probably have to create a rule in pfsense so you can manage it. If it is a simple network setup I think it would be better to hang the ap of a switch/hub that is on your lan segment. This will simplify things greatly.
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No web interface even for basic settings? Any other interface, ssh, telnet etc?
There was an effort to get the management software running on pfSense and for a while I beleive it worked quite well. That was sometime ago though and I think the last reports I read were that it sort of ran but was incredibly slow. It's a shame because if it was an easy to install pfSense package using Unify wifi would be a no-brainer. I guess Ubiquity have little incentive to make it work as it directly competes with their own routers.https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=46342.0
Looks like there is still work on-going in the ubnt forums.
Steve
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Ok I greatly appreciate all the comments. How is the support in pfSense for Nortel? The reason I ask is I have a bunch of these things.
http://www.shoplet.com/Nortel-networks-limited-Nortel-2332-Wireless-Access-Point-54-Mbps-DR4001086E6/2N11153/spdv
Before I go ahead and buy the Ubiquity stuff I'll try this first.
Someone asked if I was trying to separate wireless from my wired network and the answer is no, I'd like to be able to access my wired network from my wireless devices.
However at some point I might create a second router and use that to create a separate network. The reason for this is that I have several boarders at my home and I'd prefer to give them their own network separate from my network.
Thanks again for all and any comments
WD -
You might as well try it since you have them already. pfSense will work with any access point but looks like those Nortel units are designed to work with some central server/switch. They may have a stand alone mode, time to hit the manual. ;)
Edit: Looks like they're also PoE only.
Steve
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I have the power injectors for them. I may have a poe switch at home as well. I also have a couple controllers for the Nortel APs. My organization upgraded to an N solution a couple years ago and I was able to salvage the old Nortel equipment.
Greatly appreciate the comments and suggestions.
WD
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If you have all that then use it. :D I bet it cost a fortune when it was new!
It should work fine.Steve