I want to add network and internet access (via WiFi) to a NAS device in a shared workspace.
Yes, I know a NAS/server should be hard wired to the router. However this isn’t an option in the shared space. There’s only WiFi available and I don’t manage the current network infrastructure hardware so limited with my options.
Currently I have two computers wired together via Ethernet. I use SyncThing to sync direct transfers between the two. And each device is connected to the internet via WiFi.
My thoughts were to use an openwrt device as a WiFi Client Mode Bridge. Attack the two computers and the NAS to the openwrt device. Allowing the NAS to get some internet access for updates etc. But most of the file transfers will be between the three devices which are all wired together.
Ideally, I want only the NAS to get internet access via openwrt. So that there aren’t three devices all sharing the one WiFi connection, and instead the two other computers continue to access the WiFi via their own connections.
Ideally would want 1Gbe Ports but 2.5Gbe ports would be a bonus as the Mac Studio and custom PC both have min 2.5Gbe.
I’d appreciate advice on if this network setup is possible? And openwrt is the right solution.
Also open to hardware suggestions too. Ideally under £100.
Why don't you want the PC to access internet through OpenWrt??
If you insist to use WiFi for direct connection to outside, then you just need to hook the LAN port of your PC/MAC to LAN port of OpenWrt router but don't use the default gateway there (or manual IP without GW).
I thought it would be inefficient for three devices to use one shared openwrt WiFi link. Or is that not the case?
Would it not be more efficient for each client to connect to the WiFi individually? And then the WiFi AP can manage each connection individually and support any MiMo antennas of each device supports it?
Do you mean on the Mac as an example, manually setting the network address on the LAN port and then leaving the default gateway blank on that interface?
A router might have better antennas than your PCs. Depending on WiFi signal strength, you might get better performance through the router than directly. Hard to say about MIMO. However many devices have only 2 streams, but routers can have even 4. Additionally, 3 devices trying to transmit have to wait for each other. When all transmission is aggregated by the router, I believe it could manage available airtime more efficiently.
Of course the only way is to test.
Unless you want to separate your devices from the rest of the network, I think you don't need NAT on this router, but only routing.
I don't know what WiFi is on your PC/Mac, and don't know what router you plan to use as client.
But for example if workspace WiFi is 4T4R, and you use the same 4T4R router as a client, then the total bandwidth should be good enough for multiple client devices (nowadays most client devices have only up to 2T2R), also the router itself should have better signal receiving.
As mentioned above, I have no idea what WiFi hardware on your PC, but if your router is connecting to OpenWrt, then you are using cable to router, only router will be connecting to workspace WiFi and you don't need to care about PC/Mac WiFi capability.
Correct, then it will not use it unless you are trying to connect NAS.
For now I have a spare GL-MT1300 and a 1Gbe TP-Link Switch. So I'll use those for now as a proof of concept and then look to upgrade to something that supports 2.5Gbe and openwrt at a later date or a 2.5Gbe switch.