Home > IT Answers > Windows Server > Add Wireless Capability to Existing Business Network
Totustek
20 pts.
 Add Wireless Capability to Existing Business Network
Domain Administration, Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Wireless Access Points, Wireless Network
Hello Everyone,
I'm a new tech intern and the company I'm working for has asked me to add wireless capability to their existing network. 
I am looking at various access points and the building is large enough that we will probably require at least two AP's. They are using Active Directory to control login's for their domain and I would like to know what the easiest way to add wireless capability so that laptops can log in the same way their wired desktops do to access the same domain. We're looking to connect the APs directly to the switch. 
Any suggestions on AP brands/models for this smaller setup would be much appreciated as well. Thanks!


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ASKED: November 23, 2011  10:16 PM
UPDATED: March 6, 2012  6:04 PM
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 Approved Answer - Chosen by Totustek (Question Asker)

What they want is to have one SSID and be able to move about the building and not even have to think about connecting to a different SSID. We want it to just automatically switch over to the stronger of the APs.

I did this some time back with two APs, both flashed with DD-WRT firmware. IIRC, one was configured as a standard AP and the other one was configured as a wireless client bridge/repeater. They both had the same SSID, and security key, and my transition between APs was seamless. I didn't have an existing wired network in place like you do, but I imagine that won't present a major issue for you.

ANSWERED:  Nov 28, 2011  1:58 PM (GMT)  by Totustek
 
Other Answers:

If all you need is 2 AP’s, then you can just go with any wireless N AP’s you can find at Office Depot or Best Buy, link Linksys or D-Link. The easiest way would be to have 2 separate AP’s (one in each wing or side of the building) with each having there own SSID (Wireless_East and Wireless_West).
That would be the easiest and cheapest to setup

Last Wiki Answer Submitted:  November 24, 2011  3:07 am  by  Ingram87   1,285 pts.
Latest Answer Wiki Contributors:  Ingram87   1,285 pts.
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I guess you got to know the budget of the company on how much they allocate for both the AP’s..But like what Ingram87 say, get those AP’s with wireless N.

jinteik
 15,485 pts.
 

Thanks Jinteik and Ingram87. The company is willing to spend the money to get it done correctly. They only want one SSID for both APs. Is there any type of special setup that I’m going to need to allow the laptops to login using their active directory credentials and access shared resources like wired workstations do? Like I said the APs will be going directly into the switch. There are approximately 40-50 users that will need to access the wireless at any given time. What they want is to have one SSID and be able to move about the building and not even have to think about connecting to a different SSID. We want it to just automatically switch over to the stronger of the APs. Any suggestions with this?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Totustek
 20 pts.
 

Hi Totustek,

I cannot comment any further as I have never done this implementation before, but maybe you can take a look at this site as below to get an idea on how to set it up.

http://danielmiessler.com/blog/wireless-wpa2-enterprise-integration-with-active-directory-2008

http://www.jadota.com/2010/11/setting-up-wireless-802-1x-with-windows-server-2008-and-nps/

jinteik
 15,485 pts.
 

Almost all of the Cisco and HP Procurve access points will allow bridging like this. One will act as a primary and the other as a repeater. If it was necessary to add more than a few, I would suggest looking into a wireless lan controller which is just a device to centrally manage multiple satellite ap’s.

LinuxCiscoman
 775 pts.