Suppose I have a "black box" (which is Ubuntu Server 8.10) running in a cupboard and accessible via a web interface from the local network.
Suppose also that they want some kind of access in the event of the local network going down.
One idea I had was to add a USB wireless dongle to the black box and supply a small laptop or netbook, and set up the laptop so that it can access the web interface on the box. However, I need to make sure that this access is reasonably "secure" in that only that laptop can access the box.
I can set the laptop up using wireless security passwords/keys which are not disclosed to the end user, however the end user will of-course have access to the settings from the laptop which they could duplicate on another laptop should they choose to, and we've been asked to tie it to the laptop that's supplied as far as possible.
Presumably: (a) I should be able to find a USB wireless dongle with suitable drivers to make the initial connection work on Ubuntu, in ad-hoc mode (I have very little experience of wireless under Linux having had little need for it), (b) I should be able to restrict connections to specific MAC addresses?
Is there anything else I should be able to do that would make it hard to duplicate the connection to other hardware?
Is there any reason why something like an EEE or any other Linux based netbook wouldn't be ideal for the laptop end?
In case it's not obvious, keep in mind that the black box has no GUI installed.