Router Redirection

How can I create a 'password needed' page for internet access?

[inveni0]

I am currently working on installing a network for a hotel. I have WEP encryption set up on their router, but a lot of their guests aren't knowledgeable to even work that out. So, I'd like to get rid of this encryption, and instead have a default page that shows up when the user connects to the router. If a password to this page is not entered correctly, then they will not be able to access any other pages.

How do companies like Starbucks pull this off?

[inveni0]

Can anyone help me out? Or point me to someone/place that can?

[mole]

Rather than using a standard wireless router you need to look at hardware designed for the job. Try Googling for 'hot spot controller' or 'hot spot gateway' or similar.

This sort of stuff is manufactured by the likes of ZyXEL, D-Link and many others.

They work by allowing anyone to get a wireless connection which shows them a default page which then allows access to the 'net after they've entered a passowrd, paid money etc.

You probably also need a box which will do SMTP redirection so they can send email out through it as well.

HTH

[lammert]

I have setup internet restriction in the past using Microsoft Proxy server. You can assign proxy server rights based on windows user accounts and groups. I don't know if this works in your specific situation because your clients are probably not logged in to the local network, but maybe that Microsoft Proxy server has a way to deal with this.

[vincevincevince]

I don't know how to set up such a system but I'd like to point out that those systems are a real pain for many wireless device users. Things like skype phones, vonage boxes, WiFi radios, mobile-email, etc. rarely support showing your login page - they expect you to authenticate with WPA or similar - so I think you should look for ways around this wherever possible!