Hi, i'm a complete Linux newbit, but it's been suggested that a low-end PC running Linux and some other software may help. Here's my problem:

I have a client who wants to control web access for tenants in blocks of flats.

We initially want an initial login page for the building, in the Landlord's own branding, where we can ask for uname/pwd, or allow them to just click an onwards button to get online.

The next stage is to give a similar start page, but on the right side will be building manager's notices, and on the left will be any email left from the building manager for that specific flat, for example their phone charges for that month.

We are on a tight budget and are trying to choose if we should get a pre-existing system, or invest time in building our own.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated! My forte is CCNA, and this whole side of things is new to me! the system has to be live a week from now.

thanks,

Simon.

Like having a proxy server that they have to login to to access the internet?

Also, how are they going to be connected? Wireless?

I sell a website framework that will do what you want. In fact, that is what I intend it for. It is PHP and you get the source so you can alter it to suit yourself. Further, it will interface with my commercial product as well.

Sorry to the Mods if this sounds like an advertisement, but the question was asked and I am answering it.

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edit:

Upon review, it could be that I misunderstood. My template is a website template; looks like what you want may be a proxy server. Is that right?

thanks guys..I think it is a proxy - we want them to be directed to this internal webpage when they fire up a browser, and only get forwarded onto the net once they've put in username/password and read any messages posted on that page.

TJ, the majority of the buildings we're condiering this for have got existing Cat 5e with one socket per flat going through some low-end rack-mounted switches on automatic into a standard four-port ADSL modem/router, or two of them from two lines.

Jim, all we're looking for in the first instance is a single page to a template, which I can just about manage with Dreamweaver or some other WYSIWYG. When we get to the level of wanting to put personal messages on that page which are different for each flat; that's when I'm out of my depth.

It would be easy enough to set up a proxy server in which the tenants would have to login (i think).

However, I see that you want the browser to direct them to a page once logged in. There probably is way of doing this from the proxy server, but at the moment i can't think of a way - unless each computer is set this page as the home page.

I'm guessing this may require the writing of a cgi script? I'm not too sure on all of this, and i could be completely wrong!

Is there anyone else with some less-vague ideas?

You want a captive portal. m0n0wall can do that.

See this screenshot of the m0n0wall captive portal setup: http://m0n0.ch/wall/images/screens/s...tiveportal.png

There you go! Someone who does know more about what you want than me!

I've just had a brief look at it and seems as though it is probably what you are looking for. It seems a very good option, and it looks like it has a GPL-ish type license too.

I think that would be a good choice!

It's based on freebsd

Once again, humble thanks! I should have been clearer - what I meant was the I needed them to go to the login page before being given access to the net. Once they've logged in & seen the messages on that same login page, then they can browse anywhere!

I'll take a look at m0n0wall and freebsd.

Thanks again!
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EDIT: it seems ideal - only one snag, the client wants one authentication server which will be in a different geographic location to the buildings with LANs whose access we want to control, so the problem is how to get traffic from those DHCP LANs to the auth server, then out of the WAN port on the server back to each LAN's ADSL router? Sorry if this is too far off topic, but you guys are lifesavers thus far!