flh4299
join:2009-11-21
Carlsbad, NM
|  [Other] Large Motel/RV Park WLAN
I need some advice on setting up a fairly large network for a resort. Including two motels, two office networks and two RV parks.
The network is already partially built. There's a T1 circuit provided by Windstream,using a static IP, and they're using a new 8 port Lynksys b/g with n capabilities and a 16 port switch. The WAN's set up in a back corner, upstairs, NOC of the 160 room main motel and has two remote access points and a voip phone system connected to router ports.
The main motel lobby which is across the street, and the other motel are both networked with ZyXel media converters using copper to interconnect the buildings to the LAN. In one of those locations they have installed an ap, and the other there's a toasted Lynksys router.
I'll also have to add some ap's to the main motel, only one wing is covered now. about a third of the building.
I'll be installing some wireless point to point bridges to the RV parks and to the buisness office, with AP's at each of those.
So in total I should have about have 10 ap's.
The buisness office is not protected at this time. They are able to connect to the LAN(barely) off of one of the existing AP's It's wide open on the network. I'll be installing a central printer and server after I set up the new p2p connection.
Here are the main routers current settings:
Static WAN
DHCP LAN -192.168.1...
And this is how I planned to set up the remote buisness office LAN
Router/AP:
Static WAN- 192.168.1.... aimed at main router.
Static LAN -10.1.1...
WEP 64
Can I use routers at the buisness office and RV parks or do I need ap's?
Should I install a VPN or firewall for the buisness office? And will I need a controller in the NOC?
Thanks. I'll get some details on the router and include a diagram on my next post. |
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stevech0
join:2006-09-17
San Diego, CA |
Pay a pro. |
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flh4299
join:2009-11-21
Carlsbad, NM | reply to flh4299
thanks |
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Anav
Sarcastic Llama? Naw, Just Acerbic
Premium
join:2001-07-16
Dartmouth, NS
1 edit | reply to flh4299
Assuming responsibility for this with your hands tied by existing equipment and infrastructure does not sound like fun.
The best advice I can give you is ask in the wisp forum where there are experts that deal more with these scenarios, especially marrying up one T1 connection to a number of buildings and RV parks and point to point. As suggested spend time and money up front on planning and support.
»Wireless Service Providers
--
Ain't nuthin but the blues! "Albert Collins".
Leave your troubles at the door! "Pepe Peregil" De Sevilla. Just Don't Wifi without WPA, "Yul Brenner"
LlamaWorks Equipment |
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Full Power
join:2009-09-25
Houston, TX
| said by Anav  :Assuming responsibility for this with your hands tied by existing equipment and infrastructure does not sound like fun. Fun or not depends on how much they are paying !
Bandwidth and it's control will be the biggest challenge. It sounds like you are doing too much with a single T-1. How many users total will you have ?
With Business clientel in a hotel of 160 rooms you can expect about 75 users with a full house. The business office will need bandwidth during business hours. The hotel will need it after business hours. The RV park will prolly be mostly senior citizens who are known for their light bandwidth requirements.
You are going to need to do some aggressive traffic shaping. If you keep concurrent users to 125 or fewer then I can recommend some in-expensive hardware and free firmware that will control and prioritize the traffic for you. If you need a captive portal with authentication and re-direct for the hotel then you are looking at a more involved control system. Another T-1 would really make this much easier. |
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flh4299
join:2009-11-21
Carlsbad, NM
| reply to flh4299
During the busiest part of the season, I don't think we'll ever see over 75 users at once, including the RV parks. The buisness office only has four or five stations and one of those is rarely on, and the main motel has 60 rooms(I fat-fingered my OP) the other has 30.
I'll take a closer look at the system and provide much more specific details.
I'll be going back the middle of this week.
Oh, and this one's more about the experience than the money  |
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Full Power
join:2009-09-25
Houston, TX
| said by flh4299 :I'll take a closer look at the system and provide much more specific details. Sounds like it is going to be a pretty simple plug and play set. The Engenius EOC-2610 has been one of my favorite radios lately. It supports all modes of operation, is high powered and has POE.
You can put the business office behind a NAT router to keep it private. The rest of the system you can use AP mode and either wired or WDS links to hook them together.
Microtic will do captive portal and traffic shaping but costs more money and is difficult to configure. Tomato firmware on a good broadcom router will do traffic shaping but it will not provide an authenticated log in. |
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flh4299
join:2009-11-21
Carlsbad, NM
| The EOC 2610 looks like a good solution for me. Can I use them as a p2p for the business office and run a NAT router?
The business office is only about 500' behind the NOC. I was looking at the Bridge 5 system from Radio labs, but if the 2610's will work it would cost about half as much.
And can I also use them as AP's in conjunction with the main lynksys AP?(Coming off of a lan port) |
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Full Power
join:2009-09-25
Houston, TX
1 edit | said by flh4299 :Can I use them as a p2p for the business office and run a NAT router? Yes, WDS bridge. 40 Mbps TCP delivery.
said by flh4299 :And can I also use them as AP's in conjunction with the main lynksys AP?(Coming off of a lan port) Yes, they make a great access point ! |
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flh4299
join:2009-11-21
Carlsbad, NM
| Great! The job has just been made a lot easier, as the business office will soon be moved into the same building as the motel lobby. Also the old phone system may very well be replaced with a voip system, they want to add another T1 or DSL for the WLAN, and they aren't worried about wi-fi for the 30 room motel.
Right now the phone system and Internet are split up by an ADTRAN Total Access 624 router.
The LAN router is a Lynksys WRT150N, looks like it has RADIUS and NAT.
I think the plan is to leave the client access wi-fi open, since the network will be dedicated to guests ( No servers or other computers on this network) and this place is in the middle of nowhere, so bandwidth bandits won't be a concern.
I'm going to order a 2610 so I can test distance and placement for the motel and RV parks. I'm thinking WDS mode for the RV parks instead of a p2p system.
The motel is an open air courtyard.
Unfortunately the breezeways are almost almost a solid wall. |
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Full Power
join:2009-09-25
Houston, TX
| said by flh4299 :I'm going to order a 2610 so I can test distance and placement for the motel and RV parks. Sounds like a fun project. I'm sure you will enjoy that radio. Keep us posted on how it goes ! |
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flh4299
join:2009-11-21
Carlsbad, NM | Thanks, I'll keep you posted. |
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