#software access point

[fayexfnq-blog]

ZyXEL ZyAIR G-202 - Network adapter - Hi-Speed USB - 802.11b, 802.11g

ZyXEL ZyAIR G-202 - Network adapter - Hi-Speed USB - 802.11b, 802.11g ZyXEL G-202 is perfect for any situation. With a weighted base, it converts into the perfect desktop solution. When you're on the go, simply detach the G-202 from its base, cover the exposed USB connector with the included cap, and you're ready! The Software Access Point mode makes the G-202 a perfect solution for group traveling. Simply plug in your wired connection to your laptop and with a simple click of the mouse, make the G-202 into an Access Point. Share your Internet connection in a local area with security measures including WEP.

[uhowto]

Walk-through: Making software access point on Ubuntu Lucid with Netgear Wireless-N 150 USB Adapter WNA1000

This is the longest micro-HOWTO  in this blog. So far.

Sofware access point is WiFi access point made of computer, wifi adapter and  (you guess) appropriate software. I had configured wireless  Internet access for my netbook via my home desktop computer running Ubuntu Lucid Lynx. The most valuable information on the topic I had obtained from this post (Russian).

This is a record of my achievement.

enable lucid-backports repository. Uncomment a line in /etc/apt/sources.list similar to:

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu lucid-backports main restricted universe multiverse

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules-wireless-2.6.37-lucid-generic

forbid loading of obsolete driver: add following line to /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf:

blacklist ar9170usb

download latest firmware for carl9170 driver from http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/carl9170#Firmware-1 and copy it to /lib/firmware/carl9170-1.fw

Setup static IP address for wireless adapter. Add following lines to /etc/network/interfaces:

auto wlan0 iface wlan0 inet static address 192.168.1.2 netmask 255.255.255.0

reboot the computer

Install latest hostapd:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:infra-it.ru/updates sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install hostapd

create hostapd.conf Copy example file:

sudo zcat /usr/share/doc/hostapd/examples/hostapd.conf.gz > /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf

modify following params in /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf:

interface=wlan0 driver=nl80211 hw_mode=g # Give your wireless lan a name ssid=my-fancy-wireless-network # your country code goes there country_code=RU #pick a number between 1 and 11 channel=7

(optional) test hostapd configuration

hostapd -d /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf

If everything is ok, you should be able to connect the client device (notebook, smartphone, whatever) to your wireless LAN now.

edit /etc/network/interfaces. Append following line to iface wlan0 stanza:

hostapd /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf

install dnsmasq as lightweight DHCP and DNS server:

sudo apt-get install dnsmasq

create configuration file /etc/dnsmasq.d/wlan.conf:

interface=wlan0 dhcp-range=192.168.1.100,192.168.1.250,72h strict-order

reboot. now client device should have DNS working and IP assigned when connected to wireless network.

Enable security (optional, but strongly recommended) In /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf:

wpa=2 wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK wpa_passphrase=<PassphraseIsALongPassword!> rsn_pairwise=CCMP

enable NAT on host computer (see this post)