Software based access point

Access Point Monitoring View the status of online users or network devices. AP Management Software. Centralized firmware upgrade allows you to upgrade multiple access points simultaneously Backup and restore access points using configuration templates Restore configuration settings i.

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Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections. WiFi has become an essential part of life: It brings our social networks, our jobs, as well as movies and TV to our mobile devices.

As we live more of our lives online, having stable, dependable WiFi at home has become a necessity — so what can you do about dead spots where you get no signal? Wireless access points are the perfect solution for any home that has a few problem areas where better WiFi is needed. A single wireless access point, when connected to your primary wireless router, acts as a secondary broadcast location for your same network.

With a wireless access point installed, you get more of the network your devices need without the need for configuration changes to any of them. There are a variety of ways to establish or improve a WiFi signal in your home, and there are many different devices that approach wireless networking differently. Before you pick out a wireless access point, make sure you understand the competing technologies and what your connectivity options are.

Wireless access points , or WAPs, work in partnership with a wireless router — their primary function is to extend the reach and speed of an existing WiFi network. They connect to a wireless network through either a wired Ethernet connection or by joining it wirelessly. A mesh network is one in which multiple identical broadcast nodes work together to provide WiFi coverage — every node is involved in every data relay, providing it to your devices as quickly as possible. Mesh networks are ideal for larger homes or homes with multiple low-coverage areas.

Most wireless access points are designed to be set up in one of three locations:. Ceiling- and wall-mounted wireless access points are typically the size of a smoke detector, and ideal for covering entire rooms. Keep in mind that wherever you mount your wireless access point, it will need both power and, ideally, a wired internet connection. Some wireless access points only support older, outdated wireless protocol standards.

Make sure the wireless access point you choose supports the Using a guest network allows you to provide WiFi to friends and family when they visit without granting them unsecured access to your entire network. Wireless access points are agnostic for the most part, and brands and product lines can be mixed and matched based on your needs. However, there are some significant advantages to using complementary products from the same brand — for example, if you get a wireless access point made by the same manufacturer as your wireless router, you may be able to manage both devices from a single interface.

A software access point, also called virtual router or virtual Wi-Fi, enables a computer to turn its wireless interface into a Wi-Fi access point.

It saves the trouble of getting a separate wireless router. You need a nl compatible wireless device, which supports the AP operating mode. This can be verified by running the iw list command, under the Supported interface modes block there should be AP listed:. Creating a software AP is independent from your own network connection Ethernet, wireless, Many wireless devices even support simultaneous operation both as AP and as wireless "client" at the same time.

Using that capability you can create a software AP acting as a "wireless repeater" for an existing network, using a single wireless device. The capability is listed in the following section in the output of iw list :. Random MAC address can be generated using macchanger. Adjust the options in hostapd configuration file if necessary. See hostapd Linux documentation page for more information. For automatically starting hostapd on boot, enable the hostapd.

If you are starting hostapd on boot, make sure the wireless network interface is brought up first, otherwise it will fail. To ensure your wireless interface is ready, edit the unit configuration file and state that it is bound to and should start after your network interface:. Also make sure that the interface is not managed by other network managers.

The bridge approach is simpler, but it requires that any service that is needed by the wireless clients, in particular DHCP, is available on the computer's external interface. This means it will not work if the external modem which assigns IP addresses, supplies the same one to different clients.