Clueless, requesting some assistance

I want to use wireless to connect two networks that are separated by
about 3 miles over relatively flat terrain (semi-urban).

My home network is a wired 100TX setup using a 100TX switch. It
receives wireless broadband internet access via a Belkin router and an
Alvarion breeze access "radio" connected to an outdoor planar antenna.
The wireless access is new, and I currently have the home network just
jacked into a single LAN port on the router, going to the WAN port on
the switch. The Alvarion radio is jacked into the WAN port on the
router. I eventually plan on deleting the switch and connecting the
individual computers to the router directly, but everything's working
and I hate to upset the boat.

I want to connect the home network to my office network (also a 100TX
system on a switch). I want to be able to share network resources
between the two networks as well as share internet access at the
office from the home system. Security on the link is important, and
will need to be at least HIPAA compliant (I believe the Belkin router
is compliant, using 128 bit encryption and NAT).

I've seen a couple of bridge solutions on the Hyperlink Tech website
that look like they would work, but I'm concerned about the number of
devices supported. They mention "up to" 4 devices. The office had 4
computers, but also has 5 printers, 4 of which are on print servers,
rather than connected to host computers, as well as 4 IP security
cameras.

If this is a reasonable solution, how, exactly, would I connect the
bridges (cat-5) to the networks? To a LAN port on the home router?
Presumably I'd need a router between the bridge and the network at the
office, or does the bridge take care of the routing as well?

How would I need to configure the IP's of the 2 systems. Currently, I
believe they both use 192.168.0.xxx addresses (and probably are
sharing some of the same last numbers).

I have 3 main goals here. First, I want to share the broadband
internet access with the office. Secondly, I want to have direct
access to a couple of office databases at home, and thirdly, I want to
have access to the office security cameras, which are tied into the
office net (IP cameras) at home. The camera access wouldn't have to
be direct to the IP address of the camera, but just access to the
generated files on the storage computer would be fine.

Any help is appreciated.

Bob Clark

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed) says...

> I want to connect the home network to my office network (also a 100TX
> system on a switch). I want to be able to share network resources
> between the two networks as well as share internet access at the
> office from the home system. Security on the link is important, and
> will need to be at least HIPAA compliant (I believe the Belkin router
> is compliant, using 128 bit encryption and NAT).

Stop right there.
Cracking 128 bit WEP encryption is trivial. NAT provides no security on
your wireless link. If HIPAA compliance is an issue, you're going to get
nailed because this infrastructure is most definitely not compliant. You
could have unwelcome visitors inside your office LAN within an hour of
bringing up your wireless link.

That said, you certainly can put together a compliant (secure)
connection using 802.11 wireless gear and some type of VPN technology
that will allow you to tunnel across the wireless link. This will
probably mean some additional hardware at each end; a pair of cast-off
PC's running a Linux-based VPN tunnel, or perhaps something like a pair
of Netopia R-910's.

Obviously, you'll also need good line of site between the antennae of
the two wireless end points.

I truly don't mean to be condescending, but it seems that you are maybe
in just a bit over your head here. Normally, I'd say "So what? Go for
it.", but the stakes are considerably higher with HIPAA regulations in
the mix, so the best counsel I can give is to seek the advice of a
professional. The RF survey, topographical survey, and other preliminary
work they can do will be well worth it, not to mention the value of a
properly designed and secured network infrastructure that you'll get
should the preliminary work come back positive.

Good luck to you.

John

--
********************************************
Flatline Wi-Fi -- Un-Wiring You To The World
http://www.flatline.com
********************************************