Hello,

I am working on a project for which I am designing a hotspot of some sort. I am using a small nettop computer, running Ubuntu 11.10, which is using apache2 to set up its own server. The desired functionality of the hotspot is to be able to broadcast a website (html and php codes all included on a connected external hard drive) on its own wireless network so that users can connect to the website even when there is no internet access.

The problem I am running into now is that right now, in order for the user to view the website they are having to connect to my network, open up a browser and then type in the IP address of my nettop. I am looking for a way to redirect they instantly to my website right when they open up a browser (kinda like starbucks does with their log in page). It will not be to a separate authentication page, but to the actual homepage for the website. This is needed because it is ridiculous to have all users know my IP in order to access my site. Please if you have any idea how to do this or any advice, it is much appreciated!

Thank you,
phocus

This might work: Set the browser command on the menu they access to be

instead of just "firefox."

Substitute the browser name of your choice.

It still requires an IP address unless you implement some form of local DNS.

I'm sorry, frankbell, I am still very new to this stuff. How exactly would i 'Set the browser command on the menu they access'?

For whatever menu they will access on whatever desktop environment you are using, there should be a menu editor that allows you to add new entries or edit existing ones.

Which desktop environment/window manager are you using for this on Ubuntu?

By the way, what you are setting up is referred to as kiosk mode.

This article gives a (likely much too) detailed discussion of kiosk mode.

It sounds to me that all you need is a running session where the users have basically no access to anything other than an icon or menu item for starting the browser. If I'm correct in that, I would recommend that you review the link and consider taking some precautions so users can't access other parts of the machine or do naughty things to your network.