Setting up a LAN that can access internet through existing wireless LAN

Xandos · 22 Mar 2016 at 09:24

Hi guys. I'm in an office space where we are provided (awful) WiFi. I would like to create a wired network between a few colleagues, set up a nas etc. The difficulty is that a couple of these machines that need to be able to connect are macbook airs which don't have network ports. So a wired and wireless router seems to make sense... The trouble is how to get the internet to be available through the newly set up router... Is there a way for it to act as a gateway to the existing wireless internet so that laptops connected to our WiFi can still get online? We *should* have some limited "support" from the buildings IT (I dunno they might make a setting change on their router or something).

I'm sure this is a very simple and common problem but my networking knowledge isn't great so any advice is well appreciated.

Orcvader · 22 Mar 2016 at 09:55

Assuming you already have a router, wouldn't an access point be the cheapest option? Assuming you want all the devices to be on the same network where they can access the same resources.

Xandos · 22 Mar 2016 at 10:01

Thanks for the reply.

I've just looked up what a wireless access point is... My understanding is that I could plug that into a wired switch or router and that would allow devices to access that switch wirelessly.

But when those laptops connect wirelessly to our wired network, which has no internet connection, how would they be able to access the internet and our network resources through the same connection?

On proper computers we can just use wireless to get internet and wired for resources, but that's not possible for the laptops...

Steve_bullockuk · 22 Mar 2016 at 10:47

Xandos said:
Thanks for the reply.

I've just looked up what a wireless access point is... My understanding is that I could plug that into a wired switch or router and that would allow devices to access that switch wirelessly.

But when those laptops connect wirelessly to our wired network, which has no internet connection, how would they be able to access the internet and our network resources through the same connection?

On proper computers we can just use wireless to get internet and wired for resources, but that's not possible for the laptops...

It sounds to me like you have a dedicated internet circuit purely for the WiFi. A wireless repeater would be your best option. One thing i will say though is that you might be breaking all sorts of network security policies by connecting your own network devices so i'd run it past IT first (unless you want to be like 99% of all end users and do it anyway :rolleyes:

)

Orcvader · 22 Mar 2016 at 11:15

Hmm, I think I misunderstood what you're trying to achieve.

So not all computers will be allowed access to the internet? Any chance of a basic diagram

?

Steve_bullockuk · 22 Mar 2016 at 11:20

Orcvader said:
Hmm, I think I misunderstood what you're trying to achieve.

So not all computers will be allowed access to the internet? Any chance of a basic diagram ?

It sounds to me like they have 2 networks. One is a corporate LAN with no internet access, the other network is completely separate which is purely in place to give internet access via WiFi.

joeyjojo · 22 Mar 2016 at 11:24

It sounds like there are no wired connections to the main LAN available, so what you need is a wireless bridge.

Work WiFi
^
| Wireless (a)
v
Wireless bridge <---> Wireless (b) <---> Laptops etc.
^
| Wired
v
Your wired computers, NAS, etc.

That way you should get great speeds for anything that can hop over only your wireless bridge, but all machines should still be able to see the work LAN.

I'd suggest getting a dual radio box so you can set the wireless connections (a) and (b) to be on isolated radios.

Xandos · 22 Mar 2016 at 11:40

Thanks. Steve is correct in what I am trying to achieve, sorry for not being clearer. What do you mean by dedicated internet circuit? The office we are renting has a WiFi LAN to serve internet. There are network ports in the walls but dunno if they're gigabit. It seemed to me a nice idea to have our own network and just use their internet if possible. We'll tell IT about it but last I heard they took two weeks to enable a wall plug.

So with a wireless repeater would one connect that to the wired switch and it would feed internet into devices connected to that LAN?

Steve_bullockuk · 22 Mar 2016 at 11:56

Xandos said:
Thanks. Steve is correct in what I am trying to achieve, sorry for not being clearer. What do you mean by dedicated internet circuit? The office we are renting has a WiFi LAN to serve internet. There are network ports in the walls but dunno if they're gigabit. It seemed to me a nice idea to have our own network and just use their internet if possible. We'll tell IT about it but last I heard they took two weeks to enable a wall plug.

So with a wireless repeater would one connect that to the wired switch and it would feed internet into devices connected to that LAN?

Okay so you who maintains the WiFi? Is it your IT department or the building management?

If you plug a WiFi access point into your corporate LAN, then you are just broadcasting your LAN via WiFi which will not give you internet access. If your company are paying the building management company for access to the WiFi, i'd be complaing to them about the poor signal.

Orcvader · 22 Mar 2016 at 12:41

So rereading it, you have a new office space, and is provided a wifi signal for internet access. You will be setting up a completely new network on the other hand, to allow all the PCs to access things like NAS, printer, etc. with a router as the central device, providing both wired and wireless connections.

If that's the case then perhaps buying a router with a client mode may work, set this up to receive the wifi signal that has internet access, and then connect it via cable to the router that is managing your network. A bit like this:

Internet wifi ))) Router (client mode) ---- Main Router -> Rest of devices, via wired or wireless