This is a report on the Linux Symphony drivers I have been
installing.  The result is an inexpensive wireless network.

Proxim has delayed their bridge device for over 2.5 months
now, and it will be in the $400 price class when it finally
does ship.

The linux driver removes any need for the bridge device.

I am able to report that the driver does work, and it works
very well through-out the house.  The ping times average about
15 ms.  I have three systems currently.  One is a Win98 node,
the other two are Linux RedHat 5.2 machines.  I spent last
weekend figuring out how to make the linux and Win98 work
together.  The docs are complete, but the plug-n-play and
modules procedures were new to me.  I just haven't messed
with those features.  The Proxim cards are plug and play, so
you need to set that up on the linux.

The best way to do that is:

        pnpdump >/etc/isapnp.conf

and then go edit the conf file.  I really had a hard time with
IRQ selection.  I finally got IRQ 3 and IO address 0x200 to
work, and that's where I intend to say!  When you reboot this
file will be read, and your Symphony will be ready for commands.

After you compile the module (instructions included), you can load it using:

        insmod rlmod irq=3 io=0x200 CardType=4

This will load the module and you can now command the card using
/usr/local/bin/rl2cfg like so:

        rl2cfg dev eth0 msta channel 3 sub 5 name BIGBOY
        rl2cfg dev eth0 secid secret

This second command is Proxims way of providing privacy so others
can't easily view your activity.   Now you're ready for the TCP/IP
routing:

        ifconfig eth0 10.0.0.1 netmask 255.0.0.0 broadcast 10.255.255.255
        ifconfig eth0 up
        route add default eth0

Something like that, your system may vary.  In my system, I have an ethernet
card and a Symphony, so I use the same IP address on both cards, and enable
IP forwarding in the /etc/sysconfig/network file:

        FORWARD_IPV4=true

This will be set on next reboot.

I have not got this setup to work with the Win98 computer.  It refuses to
see the Linux boxes.  At this time I am downloading the latest drivers, and
will try and re-install.  So that's the verdict, it works great on Linux, but
so far not with Win98 and linux.  I did look at my spectrum analyzer to see
will try and re-install.  So that's the verdict, it works great on Linux, but
so far not with Win98 and linux.  I did look at my spectrum analyzer to see
what the signal looks like.  I was surprised at how wide it is!  The device
is a slow hopper.  It hops around rather randomly, and I was able to see all
devices with just a little whip antenna (the analyzer is not that good a
receiver with just an antenna).  I intend to try and use this at 1/4 mile on
an outside antenna.  From what I see on the analyzer I think it will work
pretty well.

Steve, N5OWK

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