Can I exempt certain machines from the login procedure???

[ben]

I have a hotspot combined with a few permanent
computers, all connected through one wireless
access point.

The permanent computers do not need authentification,
since they are controlled by another internet cafe server
application (which has a zillion features missing from
Firstspot).

So - I would like to specify four IPs or MACs which are to
be routed straight through by Firstspot, without
authentification. A bit like the exempt URLs, but on the
input side.

Is this possible?? Is there a workaround?? I know I can log
them in with usernames which have unlimited time, but I
am worried that if they get logged out somehow it will
cause the users on these machines a lot of confusion.

I guess I can put the permanent machines on another
physical net by purchasing another WAP or by hardwiring
them. This is second best for me.


Please help
Thanks
Ben.

[kevin]

At the current version, FirstSpot does not provide the authentication as you described.

But you can schedule a curl batch script to run at your client machine periodically to login without manual intervention. Steps follow:

1. download curl (which is a commnad line tool to post and retrieve http traffic, less than 500k) from http://curl.haxx.se/download.html

2. install curl into a directory and include that directory into your search path

3. create a batch file with the following two commands

curl --dump-header c:\headers.txt -L www.cnn.com > nul

curl -b c:\headers.txt -d "name=USERNAME&pwd=PASSWORD&submit=submit" http://private_nic:5788/login.php >nul

4. make sure cnn.com in the 1st command is not a exception/free site

5. replace USERNAME and PASSWORD in the 2nd command with the user with unlimited time

6. replace private_nic with the ip address of FirstSpot's private NIC

7. schedule the script to run every x minutes (x < default time-out set in the Configuration Manager)

This script will login automatically for a machine that is logged-out and it will not cause any harm if that's already logged-in.

You can download the above batch script from http://patronsoft.com/firstspot/download/sample_curl_login.zip

In this case, hope you don't have to purchase another AP.

~ Patronsoft Limited ~

[ben]

Thanks Karl for a very thorough and thoughtful
reply to my query. I am worried about your solution,
however, as I already have so many customisations on my
client machines that this one my just be the straw that breaks
the camel's back, so to speak.

Also - it would likely mean that those clients will keep getting
popups about being logged in and being able to log out.
Which will be very confusing next to the existing
messages generated by the I-Cafe software.

If I do want to try this, can you explain how/where I
put the html script to call the curl routine. i.e. how do i schedule
the script to run ? And what do you mean by ensuring it
is in my serach path. You mean the old dos search path
for executables?

Is there reeally no easy programming workaround in Firstspot
to exempt all packets from a particular MAC from
authentification? If there is I'd be sold on your excellent product!

Bye for now
Ben

[kevin]

Hello Ben,

Scheduler
======
Under the Start -> Program -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Scheduled Tasks.

I believe you can make the batch file in minimized mode without a pop-up window

Search Path
========
Under Control Panel, click System. Under the Advanced tab, click on the Environment Variable, edit the Path variable to include the curl directory

Script Location
==========
If the search path is set up correctly, you can place the script wherever you want and point in from the Scheduler program in Windows.
dir

~ Patronsoft Limited ~

[mikehell]

I'm considering using this software, as it apears to be exactly what I'm looking for. However, I also need a provision to have certain clients be automaticaly accepted onto the network without having to log in. There's no way that the previously mentioned solution would work in my situation. I'm dealing with a client that HAS NO WEB BROWSER, and runs an operating system that I highly doubt a web browser will ever be written for.

[guybw]

In reply to the chap whos client has no web browser....
I don't know of any O/S that does NOT have a web browser.
Every O/S from 1994 even Windows 3.1 and dos! had a web browser.
And even if they did not have a web browser WHY do they nead internet?
Post the O/S detials and somone might be able to help!.

_________________________________________________________
quote:
I'm considering using this software, as it apears to be exactly what I'm looking for. However, I also need a provision to have certain clients be automaticaly accepted onto the network without having to log in. There's no way that the previously mentioned solution would work in my situation. I'm dealing with a client that HAS NO WEB BROWSER, and runs an operating system that I highly doubt a web browser will ever be written for.
_____________________________________________________________

[mikehell]

Ok, I can mentiion two clients that are wireless and have no web browser, but I'm sure there are more...

D-Link DS-1000w wireless internet enabled camera. This is an 802.11b camera that has a web SERVER built-in, but not a browser.

Aibo. yes, a robot dog. As smart as the thing is,it still does not have a web browser in it, but it does have a wireless 802.11b card in it.

[guybw]

I had the same problem for a VOIP phone.
my soluion is simple really. Plug a hub into Firstspot. and conection as normal with a cheap DSL or router with a LAN & WAN port.
Give it an ip address like 10.20.7.2 and use MAC filters to stop people by passing. Add the MAC for clients you want to let freely pass and the Webcam.
Set the webcam gateway to 10.20.7.2

Thats it.

Cost me about 40 $ for a cheapy new one.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Guy