basic question about wireless router

[tavati]

i have spotted a wireless router which will connect to external HDD with usb2.0 and will allow it to be shared on the internet. my doubt is will i require to keep my desktop also switched on even though the router has independent power supply and the incoming broadband internet cable will be fitted to the router directly.

i intend to keep my router ASUS RT-N16 on 24*7 and plan to connect to internet with my desktop or laptop whenever i want. hope somebody gets my point here.:D

[squaregoldfish]

You shouldn't need to keep your computer switched on - it will take care of managing the external HDD all by itself.

Steve.

[tavati]

thanks steve! i got it.

this router ASUS RT-N16 is not in the list of supported wireless routers for ubuntu. so i plan to install the software ( if any) using windows xp from laptop) and thereafter i assume if i just connect my ubuntu laptop and set the ip adress correct i should be able to do internet - correct ?

[squaregoldfish]

From the very brief look I had, it seems that the router exposes the drive using FTP, which you'll be able to use in Ubuntu, but editing files directly on the drive is tricky with FTP.

I'd check out exactly what other connection options (if any) it offers, and whether those will suit you. If it can be accessed as a Windows share, then you'll be fine.

Steve.

[tavati]

u r right. the hdd wil be ftp share. but that's not my concern. i want to connect to internet with this router using ubuntu desktop/laptop . this model is not listed in the ubuntu supported list and that's why i was worried.

[t0mppa]

If your router has a web interface, like most that I've run into do, then you can easily configure it from any OS out there simply by pointing your browser to its IP address. It might have some shiny wizard for Windows for setting things up, but if you can access the configuration directly, that is redundant.

[tavati]

actually i am doing it first time. but yes , this device has a Web interface as far as specs go. so u mean with my firefox/opera i will get some homepage kind of thing and then i can tweak it ? i think that's quiet close - by my experience. am i correct ?

[t0mppa]

actually i am doing it first time.

Running the Windows program on the first time might be easier, if you're not used to setting up router configurations manually, as the web interfaces usually don't have too specific help sections and thus you have to read the manual, when you don't understand how something there works.


but yes , this device has a Web interface as far as specs go. so u mean with my firefox/opera i will get some homepage kind of thing and then i can tweak it ? i think that's quiet close - by my experience. am i correct ?

Yes, that's correct.

[tavati]

thanks - ubuntu is great because of u all !!! i love ubuntuuuuuuuuuu........