HostAPD: Linux Wifi Router

dafyre

TL;DR: Turn a Linux device into a wireless router the easy way: https://github.com/oblique/create_ap

Ran into some cash flow issues at home this month and I don't have a shiney new UAP yet... My backup router has also bombed out. I had an old netbook siting around doing nothing that I just installed ElementaryOS (Ubuntu based) on... so I checked a quick couple of ways to turn a linux device into a wireless router.

hostapd fit the bill quite nicely. I tried configuring it by hand, but wasn't able to get it to cooperate with me. I did a few more googles and found:

https://github.com/oblique/create_ap

This sets up everything for you, assuming you have a wireless card that supports being an AP. To find out, you can....

iw list

and in the resulting output, you should see something similar to...

 Available Antennas: TX 0x1 RX 0x1
        Configured Antennas: TX 0x1 RX 0x1
        Supported interface modes:
                 * IBSS
                 * managed
                 * AP
                 * AP/VLAN

The key here is the AP line. If you see that, you should be in good shape.

The Github link (https://github.com/oblique/create_ap) has some good examples if you just need it as a one off.

If you want to make a more permanent set up, edit /etc/create_ap.conf and check the Github link for the systemd commands.

This sure helped me out, and I hope it helps somebody else out too.

Edit: I should mention that I have a Pihole handling my DNS and DHCP. ~~If you need those services you can install dnsmasq.~~

Edit 2: I happened to notice after a more thorough review of my home network this morning that it does configure dnsmasq for DNS & DHCP on its own.

black3dynamite

That's awesome.

Darek Hamann

As one's last resort, this should definitely do the trick. Will save for myself, just in case.

gjacobse

I have a Monster OTG that I want to upgrade by moving to a SBC (rPiZ).. could be fun to try out.