Software access point for Mac OS X

[Lollypop]

I have build a very efficient home server out of a old B&W G3, NAT, firewall, squid proxy and squidguard url filter, but now I want to expand it a bit more. I used my old PC with a software access point wireless to share our internet connection cheaply, but now I want to do the same with my new home server, are there any software access points available for the mac os?

 

[GimmeSlack12]

I am not sure I understand what a software access point is. Are you talking about connectingly wirelessly to the internet?

Just buy a PCI wireless card for the G3, and that should work fine with the Airport software on the Mac. If that is not what you are looking for then explain what a software acces point is please.

 

[generik]

Maybe she meant a router?

 

[Lollypop]

Maybe she meant a router?

she

If I were to put a wireless card in the G3 I would be able to access it from another PC (thats wireless enabled) in ad-hoc mode, as far as I know thats strictly a 1-1 thing, meaning no other wireless enabled card can access the G3.

I need to have a central point that can accept multiple connections like a access point. Before I had a real hardware access point I used a piece of software from MSI that simulated a full access point and allowed multiple connections to a simple PCI 802.11b card. I want to know if there is something like that for the mac os, something that add the required software logic that will allow a pci card in a mac to operate in infrastructure mode.

 

[generik]

What you want to do is to get a wireless AP, and plug it into your Mac's ethernet port

 

[Lollypop]

What you want to do is to get a wireless AP, and plug it into your Mac's ethernet port

I know I can do that, but 1, thats going to cost money, there are linux alternatives that are free, and 2, I want to have the G3 be as usefull as possible. Im looking for a software sollution for what is usually done in hardware.

Check this out Linux based AP

 

[generik]

This is a linux driver for Prism 2/2.5/3 chipsets that handles all of the 802.11 management functions allowing the linux PC to act as an access point for other wireless clients

Does the Airport uses the Prism chipset?

 

[whooleytoo]

Just turn on Internet Sharing (in the Sharing control panel, under the Internet tab), and ensure Airport is checked in the "To computers using:" list.

Edit: Ah, sorry, I hadn't realised you weren't using a standard Airport card, so I don't know if the built-in software access point above will work.

 

[Lollypop]

I dont think so no, but i was simply listing it as a example, most links ive found also talk about the prism based cards. Was hoping there was something that could use any supported mac os wireless card... still looking though

 

[gekko513]

I dont think so no, but i was simply listing it as a example, most links ive found also talk about the prism based cards. Was hoping there was something that could use any supported mac os wireless card... still looking though

I don't see why OS X shouldn't be able to do its built in sharing of Internet access trick (act like a software base station) with any supported mac os wireless card. I can't guarantee anything of course.

 

[Lollypop]

I don't see why OS X shouldn't be able to do its built in sharing of Internet access trick (act like a software base station) with any supported mac os wireless card. I can't guarantee anything of course.

mmm... havnt though about that, plain simple and elligant, very apple!

From what ive been reading the wireless support in the mac os is a bit limited n terms of configuration when compared to linux. Lets hope your suggestion works. Thanks gekko

 

[Nutter]

The internet sharing trick only works when you actually have a network to share it on. You don't have a network yet, and I don't think there's any way to create one in software using your AirPort card and Mac OS X.

Get a hardware AP, they're cheap.

 

[whooleytoo]

The internet sharing trick only works when you actually have a network to share it on. You don't have a network yet, and I don't think there's any way to create one in software using your AirPort card and Mac OS X.

Get a hardware AP, they're cheap.

I don't follow, if the OP has an incoming internet connection (presumably via Ethernet), they should be able to share that out via Wifi, although it's not certain it'll work with 3rd party cards. That's how I have my iMac setup at home. I don't see why that presents a problem?

 

[gekko513]

mmm... havnt though about that, plain simple and elligant, very apple!

From what ive been reading the wireless support in the mac os is a bit limited n terms of configuration when compared to linux. Lets hope your suggestion works. Thanks gekko

I also share my internet connection like whooleytoo describes, so I know it works with Apple's own Airport cards, but you're right. The configuration options are definitely limited. I don't see any way to filter MAC addresses, for instance. I should probably also mention that I've had problems connecting Windows computers to it with encryption turned on.

Nutter: Creating a network that others can connect to is really easy with Airport, it's like three clicks with the mouse. Sharing the Internet connection requires a few more clicks.

 

[Lollypop]

I also share my internet connection like whooleytoo describes, so I know it works with Apple's own Airport cards, but you're right. The configuration options are definitely limited. I don't see any way to filter MAC addresses, for instance. I should probably also mention that I've had problems connecting Windows computers to it with encryption turned on.

Nutter: Creating a network that others can connect to is really easy with Airport, it's like three clicks with the mouse. Sharing the Internet connection requires a few more clicks.

I have a incomming internet connection through PPPoE, I have shared it before via built in Airport, but never connected more than one machine, did a fair amount fo research for my masters about wireless networking and from what I could gather doing it that way would imply a 1-1 connection (ah-hoc), it wasnt a 1-M connection like with a more traditional hardware access point (infrastructure), thats why I orginally asked for a software sollution so simulate the 1-M type of architecture.

Do you connect more than 1 other PC via your shared airport connection ghekko?

 

[gekko513]

Yes, two.

 

[Lollypop]

Yes, two.

Wow, thanks!!!