Wireless NIC for Windows 2003 Server

[Taz]

Now I would have thought getting a Wireless NIC that's supported by Windows 2003 Server would be an easy enough job, but so far I've not found nothing I've Googled, looked on Microsoft's server hardware catalogue and on various manufacturers websites but no one seems to list it as compatible or provide a driver for it Now I know you wouldn't normally use a wireless NIC with a server but as this is just a test server it will be more than sufficient.

[Jammrock]

If the device has a working WinXP driver it will work in WinS2k3 99% of the time. WinS2k3 and WinXP use the same driver model, so just find a wNIC with a WHQL certified driver and you're set.

Jammrock

[Taz]

Thanks, I did try an old 802.11b card I had with an XP driver but it only worked intermittently.

[Jammrock]

That could be an antenna problem. PCI card wNICs tend to have worse signal quality unless the external antenna has a long enough cable to put above the desk/rack/whatever surface.

It's a shame you can't put an Intel wNIC in the server, because I've gotten those to work before without any issue.

Cisco has a PCI wNIC you can check out. Their drivers are pretty solid and they come with thier own connectivity software (at least they used to, haven't used one in a while):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833120033

Jammrock

[MultimediaMan]

Get a PCI to Mini-PCI Adapter and use an Intel Mini-PCI WI-FI card...all of Intel's drivers are certified for Server 2003 (I have a support laptop which runs Server 2003 quite well).

Cisco's Adapters are also top notch.

[Taz]

That could be an antenna problem.

I put it down to being a cheap nasty card

It's a shame you can't put an Intel wNIC in the server, because I've gotten those to work before without any issue.

Seems strange Intel don't make a PCI wireless NIC

Get a PCI to Mini-PCI Adapter...

I had a look for one of those a while back and only found one place over here that sold them, they of course wanted an arm and a leg for it

[Jammrock]

And you have to be careful with PCMCIA to PCI adapters. Type II cards won't fit in Type I slots, so you have to match the card to the adapter. Your best bet is to get a good PCI with a high gain antenna that you can put up in the open.

[az]

Are USB WLAN adaptors no option?

[Taz]

Just to let you know I got a Buffalo PCI card which works fine It picked up the Win2k driver from the CD

[Gurm]

Why would you want to do such a thing? I mean, you want your server to always be available!

(And wireless is pretty unreliable...)

[Taz]

Why would you want to do such a thing?

Now I know you wouldn't normally use a wireless NIC with a server but as this is just a test server it will be more than sufficient.

(And wireless is pretty unreliable...)

It can be, but not always.

[VJ]

How about a bridge:

http://www-be.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=BE%2FLayout&cid=1125730907757&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper

Just connect it to the wired NIC, and you are good to go...


Jörg

[Taz]

Thanks but the problem has already been solved

[VJ]

May we ask how?

Jörg

[Taz]

Just to let you know I got a Buffalo PCI card which works fine