[MLB-WIRELESS] Open source hardware and software for APs

[Mike Everest]

Hi Doc,

Can I suggest that you add Mikrotik RouterOS to your list.  Sure, it is
buyware (i.e. not freeware) but it is a hugely popular routerOS especially
in the commercial wifi sector, and it will do anything you want including
ip6, ospf, bgp, mesh, wds, vpn, vlan, and has built-in captive portal
hotspot - and that is just a SMALL selection of what it can do.

If you really want to go down the open source path (and there's nothing
wrong with that!) then Mikrotik may not be for you, but if you want
something easy to use and easy to set up, and has everything built in that
you are likely to ever need, then it is certainly worth a look.

Having said all that, I need to make my usual declaration: I like these
systems so much, that I now import them and sell them.  But you don't have
to buy one from me, there are plenty of other places you can get one.

Cheers!

Mike Everest.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: melbwireless-bounces at wireless.org.au [mailto:melbwireless-
> bounces at wireless.org.au] On Behalf Of Paul van den Bergen
> Sent: Thursday, 6 November 2008 1:01 PM
> To: Melbwireless
> Subject: [MLB-WIRELESS] Open source hardware and software for APs
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> For too long I've been prevaricating about setting up a Melbwifi AP
> here are my criteria:
> I want to use one of the custom kernels - esp since I'd like to mess
> with IPv6 et al.
> I want appropriate hardware - even willing to try open source hardware
> 
> If I'm having issues then I guess others are too.
> 
> shall we compile a list of suitable starting points?
> 
> first off is there a list of the various OSs available?  I figure
> there are less install candidates so start there and go for hardware
> choice later.
> 
> I can recall/think of
> OpenWRT
> dd-wrt
> OpenSWAN??
> 
> though I confess I know not exactly what they all are or if they are
> what I'm after...
> 
> I've heard tell of open source hardware too.
> 
> in terms of choosing hardware I regularly see cheap APs selling
> through e.g. catch of the day etc.if I had a starting point I could
> quickly check their hardware computability.
> 
> 
> On the other hand I'm guessing that this info is already available - is
it?
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Dr Paul van den Bergen
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