Tampering with the MAC?

[charliemac]

I am currently setting up a 802.11g HotSpot for a specific
application. The mobile clients only need updating daily,
and are guaranteed to pass through the HotSpot at least
once every 24 hours.

Assuming that it is possible to limit the service zone
so that there are usually only three clients in the HotSpot at a time
(which, incidentally, is ideal for use with the 3 non-overlapping channels?),
is there any way to alter the MAC protocol (or product that will
support this) slightly to optimize the file transfer i.e. to ensure
that a client that makes a connection and begins download can
complete the download (assuming time in HotSpot is sufficient),
without being interupted by another client. Really, I am
trying to remove the fairness element of the protocol, without
reducing efficiency.

[MntnMan8000]

charliemac:

If I understand your issue correctly; you want to limit your network to 3 wireless users at a time so they have the best speed. One way of accomplishing this is by restricting the number of IP addresses that can be handed out.

[charliemac]

Thanks for the idea, we have been considering doing that using DHCP.

Just looking to generate some ideas.

Does anyone know if it is possible to actually alter how the MAC protocol operates within the AP and client hardware? Im talking about things such as increasing the max packet length (packet concatenation allows this to a limited extent). Is there possibly some way of re-programming the hardware, or is that out of the question unless you are an experienced telecomms engineer?

All ideas welcome, crazy or not....

charliemac.

[MntnMan8000]

charliemac:

Crazy ideas welcome? This is a bit crazy.

How about not using TCP/IP? What about using another protocol like IPX/SPX or DECnet, there are other protocols, and some of these other protocols have smaller packet headers. This would reduce the overhead.

[golfnut]

So why not just get a second broadband connection, do MAC ID + WEP or WPA for your 3 users, leave the first connection for your hotspot users, and call it a day?

Greg

[charliemac]

A slight ammendment to the above post.

Does anyone know of any tools/software/hardware available to customize the MAC operation of a 802.11g? product? I have heard these exist, but have been unable to locate them so far.

Thanks.

[golfnut]

Have you considered using a Radius server to control access...

Greg

[rookiebeotch]

i am pretty sure u wont be able to modify the mac without the help of the maker of your card/router. You would obviously have to change the mac on all devices. The manufacturer of the cards/routers keep the mac 'locked up' heh. the limiting of the ips is probably the best and easiest solution.

[Specialist927]

You will never be able to alter the mac layer chip.. The only way around this is to remove the chip itself.. The manufacture embeded the 802.11 layer into the chip itself.. You can alter certain functions like monitor mode,wep and so on but the only way to fully remove the 802.11 layer is to remove the chip...If you want to put a limit on your users the best thing to use is a bandwidth shaper in linux but it would have to be up to you what the limitations will be...linux would be the best for it flexibility and open source..just google bandwidth shaper or shaper... I do work for a wireless company...

http://www.wi-tron.com/