asked on

Guest Access Point

Can anyone suggest me an access point that will offer guest services? I intend to use it on a conference room, so it will be plugged in our main switch, Ill need something that will only allow internet access and no lan access.

Thanks
-jdff

Steven Vona

Just about any new wireless router will allow this type of access. I use the following router for the exact purpose in my friends photography studio.

http://www.staples.com/Netgear-N900-Wireless-Dual-Band-Gigabit-Router/product_368686?cid=PS:GooglePLAs:Technology:Wireless_Routers:368686:WNDR4500-100NAS

jdff

ASKER

How would I set it up? If I make it a router it will do double nat, how can I avoid that?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Steven Vona

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

Steven Vona

Actually I just read turning it into AP (access point mode) will allow your guests access to the LAN. So double nat is your only option with that device.

Steven Vona

So you have a lot of options here. But without knowing you infrastructure it is hard for me to give you any feedback.

What size is your network? Do you have a dedicated switch for the conference room? Is it possible to make a seperate vlan for your guests?

tsaico

You can also run something like Untangle or dd-wrt on a box/device that sits after your internal firewall, but before your AP. It is handy so you can use it to limit the bandwidth the AP is using (your guests) and also do some separate web filtering or a captive portal, and then also give them a different ip pool.

I also agree though, if you are looking to do just internet, then double nat isn't so bad. i have a couple areas where I do this and it works fine (one is a coffee shop, and then other is a medical office waiting room)

jdff

ASKER

I have no vlans in here, I may just have to double nat I guess.

Steven Vona

Double natting usually does not cause any issues unless you have incoming traffic. With your guests simply accessing the internet you should have no problems. It seems to be the simplest and cheapest solution.

jdff

ASKER

So, just plug the cable from the wall to the wan port in the router and set the router to obtain an ip automatically, right?

Steven Vona

Correct, then set the guest network up and done.

Also make sure you lock down the regular wireless with a strong key.

tsaico

You can also assign it a static IP or my own favorite a reservation in the DHCP pool. It can help you control it down the road, so you always know what IP it is on the network.