setting up a "metered" AP

SouperComputer · 03-02-2005 1:44am #1

meeting with a hotel tommorrow in relation to setting up a WIFI AP, but they want to charge for it

just wondering how exactly this is implmented and what software you would reccomend?

im guessing a Linux proxy server would be a start, with some custom software? or is there a dedicated AP that can take care of all this?

somthing like bitbuzz or eircon's setup, you pop is a PW and you get x amount of time.

thanks in advance for any help!

Capt'n Midnight · 03-02-2005 2:12am

are they trying to rip off the customer or provide a service ??
do they charge people to use the toilets 'cos costs a lot more to keep the toilets clean and most of us techies if all else was equal would go for the place that doesn't charge a tenner an hour. TBH the amount of time and effort to setup and debug a paid system and charge enough to break even would be the more expensive than the BB and Hardware.

http://nocat.net - Open Source captive portal.

maybe could setup a dhcp server with a short lease time - need a bit of scripting - maybe have two ip ranges - one the dynamic addresses without internet access for those who haven't paid yet ( better still have it only able to see some sites like the hotels one ) and then when they pay an a script exports thier address to a static one on the other ip range with a short time lease which then gets deleted but can see the internet. The trick is to get MAC filtering by the linux box turned off and on easily..

SouperComputer · 03-02-2005 11:29am

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

are they trying to rip off the customer or provide a service ??

TBH, I agree, but its not up to me. ive already expressed my views to them regarding this.

that solution sounds a bit complex! surely theres somthing out there that presents you with a logon when you try to access the internet?

Capt'n Midnight · 03-02-2005 12:09pm

SouperComputer wrote:

TBH, I agree, but its not up to me. ive already expressed my views to them regarding this.

that solution sounds a bit complex! surely theres somthing out there that presents you with a logon when you try to access the internet?

I reckon that's why they can charge €10-€20 an hour

IIRC NoCat allows you to connect but (tansparent proxy?) it forces you to a particular page until you login or do something. The reason for the scripting is to BREAK the normal function of DHCP which is to reserve IP address for when you next reconnect. Luckily enough Linux does all this with text files so it is possible. to hacker proof it just make the price attractive.

alternatively you could use password authentication on a squid proxy server..
then you just need to setup the pw/times on whatever service squid authenticates against -
you could even use NT authentication
NET USER username password /ADD
and then spawn a batch file triggered by thier logon (messy but doable)
WAIT 3600 (or somesuch)
NET USER username /DELETE=
if you were masochistic -
not sure how you get squid to re-authenticate at intervals

ressem · 03-02-2005 1:00pm

www.linspot.com

But they take a 15% cut of transactions, looks like they also fix the price that you sell at, €2.50 for 2 Hours.

ressem · 03-02-2005 1:34pm

Well speak of...

http://www.publicip.net/zonecd/how.php

nocat incorporated into a live cd, doesn't have the paypal payment, & roaming facilities meant to be in linspot though.

No, I haven't used either, just stuff I've spotted.

SouperComputer · 03-02-2005 1:43pm

looks good so far, a step in the right direction anyway. Downloading them now.

setting up a "metered" AP

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