[K12OSN] DHCP Servers anyone?

[David Neimeyer]

On Tue, 2005-12-06 at 15:41 -0500, Santiago, Nicholas wrote:
> Hi all--
>  
> Another interesting project today... looking to set up a DHCP server
> for a wireless access point.
>  

Nicholas,

Petre may be on the right track.  Take a look at: 

http://www.lessnetworks.com/static/download.html

Basically, Less Networks offers a Redhat based distro that is packaged
to create a "hotspot".  I'm pretty sure it uses NoCatAuth. It does
almost exactly what you want.  We use it in our cafe to offer free WiFi
to our customers.  

The customer walks into the cafe (or within range of the AP).  When
their wifi card gets power, it starts an authentication process; first
reserving access based on MAC, then a timed interval of web access is
given once the customer either a) uses an existing account to
authenticate via https or b) creates a new user account via https. (to
do either, the customer must power up their computer, and once the OS
and device drivers load, open a web browser.  The web browser will auto-
magically redirect the user to the 'splash' page for account
authentication/creation)

caveat lector: I don't admin our 'edge' server that runs Less Networks'
distro.  We have a volunteer partnership with them through Austin
Wireless City Project.  Also, our edge server uses a remote/central
server for authentication on the user accounts (hosted by Less Networks
somewhere not in my building).  However, the software should be
completely flexible for your situation.

Hope this helps,
Regards,
-dave

-- 
David Neimeyer
BookPeople, Inc.
Systems Administrator
603 N. Lamar
Austin, TX  78703
800-853-9757 x 402