[Tfug] Cabling between buildings

Harry McGregor micros at osef.org
Mon May 25 18:33:45 MST 2009


And a few more items

(see bottom of post)

Harry McGregor wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Well, you have you options basically figured out.  Here are some things
> to think about
>
> Bexley Hall wrote:
>   
>> Hi,
>>
>> I've a friend who has several buildings on his property
>> (many acres) between which he would like to run network 
>> cabling.  Wireless is out of the question (paranoia
>> as well as distances).
>>     
>
> Distance can be handled with Wireless, think directional antennas, and
> poles.   PoE powered equipment makes it even better.
>
> Paranoia can be taken care of with a goo OpenVPN (or similar) VPN run
> over top of the WiFi.  Think of the WiFi as an "open" internet
> connection, and the private networking being inside the VPN.
>
> Point to Point, and Point to MultiPoint are both options
>
> This unit is rather cheap, 48V PoE, and has an integrated 9dBi panel
>
> http://www.thenerds.net/ENGENIUS_TECHNOLOGIES.EnGenius_EOC_3220_Wireless_Access_Point_Wi_Fi_54Mbps_Wireless_Access_Point.EOC3220.html?affid=8&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=EOC3220^~^ENGENIUS%20TECHNOLOGIES
>
> And another unit supports an omni antenna as well as a built in panel:
>
> http://www.keenansystems.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=260
>
> Then you can either re-use PC equipment, or get some small embedded
> equipment to run OpenVPN on top:
>
> http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?cPath=60_84&products_id=503
>
>   
>> I imagine you can purchase CAT5 cable suitable for
>> direct burial.  But, I am not sure that even that would
>> handle the distances involved (think:  many acre ranch).
>>     
> I would use conduit (PVC) if doing Cat5 or Fiber, as the cost of direct
> burial usually exceeds the cost of cheap PVC.  Put in a pull box every
> 300 ft if possible, or at least every 950 feet.
>
> Distances up to 1 mile are quite doable with DSL/LineDriver based equipment:
>
> (not the cheapest source to be sure)
>
> http://www.blackbox.com/Store/Detail.aspx/Ethernet-Extender-Data-Voice/ME0010A-VDSL-R2
>
>   
>> Optical fibre comes to mind as a solution (especially
>> to tolerate any large common mode voltages that you
>> could encounter in such an installation -- think:
>> lightning).
>>     
>
> Fiber is the best option here for something non-wireless.
>
> 100Mbit and even Gigabit Fiber Ethernet equipment is WAY down in price
> on the secondary market.
>
> If installing fiber, use  conduit, below the frost level if possible,
> and put a cheap concrete mix about 1ft above the conduit (like 3:1 sand
> to concrete), enough that someone digging will hit it and question what
> they are doing.
>   
>>   But, are there any better options?  He's
>> not keen on spending a lot of money to do so (e.g., he
>> could always purchase multiple cell phones with "data
>> service" and route packets through TPC to get from location
>> A to location B  :-/ )
>>     
>
> If he is willing to do that, then WiFi with OpenVPN would be sufficient
> security wise.
>
> Why is it that people (and government orgs) are so afraid of WiFi yet
> they are perfectly willing to let the packets run on the wide open
> internet...
>
>                          Harry
>   
>> Thx,
>> --don
>>
>>
>>       
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>     
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tucson Free Unix Group - tfug at tfug.org
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>   
A few more good Wireless options:

http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=35&products_id=713

http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=35&products_id=585

http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=35&products_id=700

http://www.netgate.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=35&products_id=727


Information about the AirOS firmware:

http://wiki.ubnt.com/wiki/index.php/AirOS


                            Harry






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