Logging into a DNS to get access to the internet HOW?

krmayfield · 05-01-2009, 08:28 PM

I want to setup a wireless network so that a client must first login before accessing the internet.
I want to do what a lot of hotels do. The first time the the user browses the internet it shows a login page. After the user successfully logins then they can surf the web.

Not sure how its done or even what it is called (Make googleing it hard

)

If I would guess how it work... The client is setup up with a DNS server via DHCP. When the client ask for an ip address for a web site it returns back a ip address for the *login* page. When the client successfully logins then the MAC address is store and so the next DNS request the DNS server looks at the stored MAC address and sees that they have successfully login and sends back the real IP address for the web site.

That is totally a guess how it works. Tell me how it actually works...

So Questions:
What is this called?
How do I set this up? Is there a "How to"?
Where should I go for further assistance?

Thank You!!

paulsm4 · 05-01-2009, 08:35 PM

Hi -

This question actually came up on LQ fairly recently:
override-default-homepage-with-apache

Quote:

What you're talking about is called a "Captive Portal".

It has nothing to do with Apache per se. It's possible because you control the DHCP lease, you control DNS, and you control the firewall.

Here's a bit more detail:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captive_portal

'Hope that helps .. PSM