1st time wireless LAN

[joseh]

I'll be getting a laptop (with internal NIC) and will be putting Gentoo on it and also attempt to network it with my desktop Gentoo box which has net access via DSL. The setup will be quite simple, though I have quite a few questions.

I'd like
* to share net access
* both to act like the same machine on the network (ip masquerading right?)
* to share files and printer (connected to desktop machine via USB)

I haven't bought the hardware, so will I need more than an access point adapter and wifi pcmcia card? Also, are wifi cards and USB access point adapters widely supported or might I have to search around if they are Linux-capable?

What is the general setup procedure for such a setup?

Also, one caveat: I may not have a CDROM on the laptop, so is it possible to boot a linux floppy, activate the network, and continue?

Thanks much.

[NeddySeagoon]

joseh,

All these things are possible.

Since you haven't bought the equipment. Tell us how your DSL gets into you PC just now. It may have a bearing on the equipment you should select.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.