Will FirstSpot support this centralized topology?

[bconverse]

AP1------DSL------|

AP2------DSL------|

AP3------T1-------|

AP3------CABLE---|
|
|
INTERNET
|
|
FIRSTSPOT

In other word, each access point at the venue is tied to a broadband connection. My office has the firstspot server and authenticates and manages all acess points. Looking for something similar to [some hardware] products, except without having to roll my own features.

Thanks

[kevin]

Generally speaking, no matter what software/ hardware one is choosing, if you want to control the routing at each of your hotspot location (so that your users' outgoing requests are intercepted), you need control on at least one of the following:

- end-user client machine
- AP
- gateway (e.g. FirstSpot)
- outgoing communication line (proably through a router)

This explains why your quoted topology may have difficulties to achieve the captive portal purpose; especially FirstSpot does not impose any interface requirement on APs.

If you incline to use a single copy of FirstSpot, the following are two of the possible topologies:

APs --- router ---- private line ---- |
APs --- router ---- private line ---- | -- FirstSpot Adv Ed. ---- Internet
APs --- router ---- private line ---- |

OR

APs --- VPN box-- internet --- |
APs --- VPN box-- internet --- | -Internet --- VPN box -- FirstSpot Adv. Ed. ------- Internet
APs --- VPN box-- internet --- |

In the first scenario, you will help from your ISP.

In the second scenario, you simply need to buy some low-cost VPN appliances (e.g. TRENDnet TW100-BRV204) which costs about US$100 each.

Alternatively, you can run FirstSpot Standard Edition at each of your hotspot and make them talking to a centralized user database.

Detailed description of the above 2 scenarios can be read from:

http://www.patronsoft.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=203#203

~ Patronsoft Limited ~