Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Setting UP Free Public Wireless Access

Options
  • 16-02-2009 6:08pm
    #1
    djd80
    Registered Users Posts: 440 ✭✭


    Hi All

    My company have decided to change from the current WiFi Provider which charges customers to use the WiFi to a free WiFi setup which we ( aka me!) would setup and look after.

    Whats the easiest way to do this does anyone know.

    At the moment there are 8 wireless access points which connect to a couple of switches (just the basic config on the switches) which are then connected to a high speed broadband line from Eircom.

    When you access an access point you are shown a webpage which you buy credit on and off you go.

    Would it be as simple as putting in our access points, patching to the switches and into the broadband modem/router then and off you go?

    Are there any ways of preventing large downloads, porn etc and maybe logging without having to put a Server/PC in place or is this the only way we could do that sort of stuff.

    Thanks in Advance


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    GerardKeating
    Registered Users Posts: 7,623 ✭✭✭GerardKeating


    dar_d wrote: »
    Hi All

    My company have decided to change from the current WiFi Provider which charges customers to use the WiFi to a free WiFi setup which we ( aka me!) would setup and look after.

    Whats the easiest way to do this does anyone know.

    At the moment there are 8 wireless access points which connect to a couple of switches (just the basic config on the switches) which are then connected to a high speed broadband line from Eircom.

    When you access an access point you are shown a webpage which you buy credit on and off you go.

    Would it be as simple as putting in our access points, patching to the switches and into the broadband modem/router then and off you go?

    Are there any ways of preventing large downloads, porn etc and maybe logging without having to put a Server/PC in place or is this the only way we could do that sort of stuff.

    Thanks in Advance

    It could be that simple, just make sure you get a good firewall as well..


  • Options
    #3
    djd80
    Registered Users Posts: 440 ✭✭djd80


    GerardKeating wrote: »
    It could be that simple, just make sure you get a good firewall as well..


    So what I could do basically would be

    Access Points -> Switches -> ADSL Modem/Router with Firewall -> WWW

    Would that be solid enough looking?
    Could anyone reccommend me a Modem/Router I could connect directly to the ADSL line which would also include a Firewall for me?

    Sound


  • Options
    #4
    dub45
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 12,448 Mod ✭✭✭✭dub45


    Will you be setting a password that you could give to customers? There was a question on here recently from someone who was able to get on to a free wifi network from the local hotel and wanted to extend it around the house!!

    Be aware of such potential generosity!


  • Options
    #5
    Evil Al
    Registered Users Posts: 71 ✭✭Evil Al


    Remember that once the EU Data Retention Directive is implemented later this year, you will have to keep details of everyone who uses your public connection, including MAc addresses, IP addresses, some details of emails sent etc, and make them available to Gardai on request. So you will definitely need some kind of server and logging software.

    Edit: if you google you'll probably find cheap ways to do this using open source software.


Advertisement