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[SOLVED] How do you make multiple wireless routers look like one?

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by link470 1 view

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I'm working as the network administrator for a high school and we have 9 wireless routers around the school for the staff laptops. I'd like to make them all one Wireless access point by somehow joining them all and making them the same SSID.

At the moment, they all have a different name such as Room 114, Library, Gym etc. I'd like to name them something like HighSchoolName Wireless and have them all look like the same router so you just have to remember the connection to HighSchoolName Wireless. Right now, a laptop might move rooms, and lose it's connection and have to connect to another wireless access point, and because of that, that access point now needs to be set as an automatic point. But what if another user signs in, then they have to be set as automatic for each one etc. etc.

I'd like to just have one simple connection for the computers to go to. Can I just name all the routers the same and the computer won't be able to tell the difference between the routers if the SSID each computer is remembering is the same?

We're using mostly Dlink WBR-2310's. An old BEFW11S4 by Linksys, another Linksys with the model WRT54GL, and two older Dlinks: DI-524 and DI-614+.

Thanks!

9 replies

by w2ktechman

If they all have the same SSID, and are connected to the same network users will connect to the AP's like they are 1. However, the AP's will need to be on non overlapping channels for best results.

If the signals do not overlap then the channels can be the same, but they will not be able to roam seamlessly.

by retro77

Is this assuming that security is turned off on all the routers? I wonder if you can also do this when you have the same security settings and keys...

by link470

Originally, I did have the routers security turned off and wide open so that they'd be authenticated by the Domain.

We use ISA 2000, although I really don't like it and am thinking of purchasing a Barracuda Web Filter.

But teachers were saying students are bringing laptops into class and browsing the web instead of working. The wireless access points were originally just for use by the mobile machines that go around the school as I mentioned before. But now we want to lock the wireless network down with some good WPA encryption. I know that at my University there was just one access name called UniversityName-Wireless. I just connected to that each time no matter where I was on campus. Mind you, sometimes I think it may have appeared twice so they may have just had the same name, and theirs was completely unencrypted. I would like to have mine with WPA, and all looking like one big router if possible. Thanks to both of you for the replies! Tech's in numbers are always better.

by underdog966

Link, what you describe as your plan should work exactly as you envision it. All the Access Points can be set to the same SSID and become one network. AP's are just switches with RF instead of copper. Set your staff laptops to the same SSID and WPA-PSK as the AP's and they should roam from point to point without any trouble. They may still lose connection briefly, depending on how far apart your AP's are, but should roam to the next AP without any issues. I would suggest keeping the PSK under your hat, or you may have other staff members lending it out and you will get the same problem with surfing students as you have now.

As budget allows (haha), I would recommend upgrading to AP's and laptops (or cards) that allow WPA2 security.

Best of Luck.

by underdog966

Link, w2ktechman's comments regarding overlapping channels are correct. This is where you will want a floorplan of the facility to lay out your AP's and the channels they are using. Your best bet is to use channels 1, 6, and 11. These are the 3 non-overlapping channels in the B/G frequency spectrum.

by link470

That sounds awsome. All of what you guys said was what I was hoping to hear so I'm quite happy :P I was planning on using WPA2 with PSK and it appears that this will work correctly. It's been a busy time here at this network getting things revamped since the previous techs didn't keep track of any licences and gave out serials and cd's and passwords to students and staff. Yes, including the administrator password. But I'm more of a security guy than a "let's make it work so we have less tech calls" guy. Thanks again! Means a lot. I'll get to work!

by link470

Just wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions once again. I checked all of the 10 routers and 9 out of 10 of them supported WPA2 which I was very happy to see. I named them all the same, and added the same WPA2 enhanced security level to each one, and it worked perfectly. All computers roam from access point to access point automatically, securely, and under one name. Learn something new everyday. Thanks again!

by brsfrd

With the 9 different routers, are they all on the same subnet? I am interested in a similiar setup and would like to know if that is essential. tks ..m..

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