Local WiFi network

[garyn]

I have three machines that I'd like to have on a closed wireless network (think Windows workgroup) without an internet connection.

File and printer sharing is all I'd need. Are there any WiFi routers that can live with Linux and will do what I'm looking to do?

 

[KGIII]

Routers don't tend to care what OS you're using. Any router that offers sub-netting, or simply isn't attached to the internet, will do.

You might also want to look into 'ad hoc' networking.

 

[dimko]

Way I see it, "i have mix of windows and linux computers - can they work together over network?"
Yes. Linux will not interrupt Windows machines on same network. Will Linux able to access shares or provide shares and play nice with printer? Thats different question. But more likely than not - yes, it will likely lay nice. I would argue, samba sharing service is best file sharing service inside of small wifi network. It MAY require some tinkering, but last i did it - was decade ago. SFTP service is all I use these days(ssh stuff) if i need to exchange files. Though exchanging and sharing is NOT the same. But then again, Samba.

 

[deb_user]

Linux handles networking fine. Routers don't know what OS is used by any client. Any old spare router should do the job. Once the computers are on the local network, there are multiple ways to do what you need. I use sshfs to mount shares between computers, but sftp, nfs, and others work fine also. Printers vary, but most should be sharable. The easiest way is with a printer with buillt-in wifi networking, but a USB connection to a computer can do the job. File and printer sharing are done on the computers, independently of the router, unless the printer has networking.

 

[APTI]

I have three machines that I'd like to have on a closed wireless network (think Windows workgroup) without an internet connection.

File and printer sharing is all I'd need. Are there any WiFi routers that can live with Linux and will do what I'm looking to do?

all of them. routers are not operating system or use specific. Just don't plug in internet or set it up for that and you are good

 

[garyn]

Thanks all.

 

[herman11]

I have three machines that I'd like to have on a closed wireless network (think Windows workgroup) without an internet connection.

File and printer sharing is all I'd need. Are there any WiFi routers that can live with Linux and will do what I'm looking to do?

Yes, this is definitely possible. You don’t need any special router for Linux. In fact, almost any standard Wi-Fi router will work, because routers usually don’t care what operating system your computers are using. You can simply connect your three machines to the router’s Wi-Fi and not plug the router into the internet at all. The devices will still be able to communicate with each other on the local network. Once they are connected to the same local network, you can enable file and printer sharing between the machines. On Linux systems this is commonly done using tools like Samba, which allows Linux computers to share files in a way that works similarly to Windows workgroups.
the setup is quite simple: use any basic Wi-Fi router, connect your three machines to it, and configure file sharing on the computers. The network will work locally even without an internet connection.

 

[dos2unix]

This might be worth a gander, before you buy anything.

Thread 'Wi-Fi Standards.'

Dec 19, 2024

I wrote something similar here about a year ago. But it wasn't very well organized.

So I decided to clean it up a little and re-do it. I had coPilot summarize it for me. The research is
mine, but the wording and layout is AI.

Understanding Wi-Fi Standards and Their Impact on Speed and Bi-Directional Traffic​

Wi-Fi technology has evolved significantly over the years, with various standards introduced to improve speed, range, and overall performance. Each standard, identified by a letter following the IEEE 802.11 protocol, brings unique features and capabilities. This article...

• dos2unix
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Linux Networking

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