Connecting two separate networks @ home...

[bsodmike]

This is the scenario I have at home:

My Room: Mac Pro, server and a couple other devices connecting into a switch (to be upgraded to a GigE switch shortly). This gets routed to the corridor where it hooks into a Speedtouch modem/router.

In the same corridor, a WiMAX CPE (customer premises equipment) unit is installed and that connects into an Airport Extreme Basestation (AEBS) over PPPoE. An iMac in another room connects over Wifi to this network. The basestation also connects to a printer out in the corridor for wireless printing.

These are the two independent networks. The ADSL downlink is a faster 2Mbps compared to the 512Kbps WiMAX. Both the AEBS and Speedtouch distribute IP addresses via DHCP with the usual NAPT and MAC address filtering.

How can I bridge these two networks together with a hardware solution (not a PC), as I would like to be able to extend connectivity across both rooms.

Thanks!
Mike.

[TheAnimus]

Well it really depends, by the sounds of it you want to create some kind of QoS which uses the other channel to help when a bucket is getting slow.

Its not the ordinary request, what's wrong with a PC solution? I think you might be able to accomplish what you want with just m0n0wall?

[aidanjt]

As above, or, you can also bridge two networks using an el cheapo *WRT capable 'cable' router like the Linksys WRT54GL, and your preferred flavour of WRT firmware. Which works fine as long as you don't hammer the bridge with 50mbps+ traffic.

[bsodmike]

Thanks for the advise folks. I had an idea as well, utilising the dual GigE ports on my iMac. What I can do, is to draw an ethernet cable from the AEBS and plug into port 2. This way, whenever I want to access printing (or be accessible remotely) I just activate eth2.

It's a bit fiddly I guess, but the most straightforward route. This will also ensure that my server sees the full 2Mbps downlink.