DHCP will not grab ip.

[Bill Davidsen]

Tim wrote:
> On Sat, 2008-10-11 at 13:55 -0400, Bill Davidsen wrote:
>> Wasn't used before, but the setup greyed out the channel setting in
>> "Managed" mode.
> 
> That's to be expected, in managed mode you're connecting to an access
> point, and *it* manages that.  It picks the channel (or is preset to use
> a particular one), and all the clients scan the channels to find the
> local access point, and use that one.
> 
>> I do go to one site which has two AP with the same name, different 
>> channels, and different keys. I didn't design their network, and while
>> I can see the need for two AP and keys, I see no benefit from using
>> the same name.
> 
> That's probably poor configuration - many access points come with a
> predefined name (e.g. calling themselves "linksys") and their owners
> never bother to change them.
> 
To be honest it's probably a really bad configuration, but the essid is not the 
preset. The idea is that regular staff have one channel and one key, and 
executive staff have the other channel and key, but both APs share a name.  At 
least with Windows that hasn't been an issue, although I see no reason why they 
didn't use two names.

> There is a use for having access points with the same ID, so that users
> roaming through a large complex could just connect to "college" with the
> nearest access point answering to that name.  Though you'd also have the
> same key on all the access points.  That leaves users with just one
> thing to configure (what key goes with what name), the client will scan
> the channels to find an access point, you wouldn't try hard setting one.
> 
The nearby college has a load of same, just as you describe. I have no idea if 
the APs hand off like cell towers, I suspect not, but if the reconnect logic is 
robust and includes a search (and maybe use strongest match) I guess it might 
work as students wander the campus.

-- 
Bill Davidsen <davidsen at tmr.com>
   "We have more to fear from the bungling of the incompetent than from
the machinations of the wicked."  - from Slashdot