Wireless LAN

[hdcleaver]

I am looking into installing a LAN in my home using Linux (suse 9.2) as a server to win XP pc's. If i wanted to set up a wireless network, would i need to have a wireless router for it to work? Or would i be right in saying i could have a USB connection between my linux box (which also acts as a router) and my DSL modem, and then wireless network cards connecting all the computers on the network to the linux server.

If both of these are possible, what are the advantages/disadvantages of doing each. Would one be easier to set up (given that i already have a usb modem, and i would have to buy a wireless router), safer or more stable?

[techieMoe]

Wireless can sometimes be hairy to configure on Linux, depending on the chipset that your wireless cards use. I *have* been able to set up a wireless network successfully with an iMac, WinXP PC, and a Linux PC before though. You definitely need a router if you want to share a DSL connection wirelessly. Mine was a Belkin I forget the model); it worked just fine.

SuSE 9.2 Pro was supposed to have improved support for wireless chipsets, but I haven't actually played with it yet so I can't say how well it works. Good luck with it.

[kpzani]

I would use the linux pc as a router provided that the wireless card you buy can be made to work.

It shouldn't be any different to running a wired linux router.