Multiple hotspots on one network

Atroman · April 16, 2011, 4:07pm

Hi Guys,

I have an RB1100 as the base for my new WISP.

I want to run multiple hotspots on the router, for example I would like to sell hotspot connections to hotels and for them to have their own custom hotspot login/signup screen.

I’m am using UBNT wireless equipment and the CPE and the transmitter site.
Is there a way to to program the router to redirect requests from the CPE (via MAC or IP maybe?) to its designated hotspot page?

Its making my head hurt!

Thanks

Adam

fewi · April 16, 2011, 7:54pm

Use VLANs and have one VLAN per location coming back to the router. Then run different Hotspots on the VLAN interfaces.

Atroman · April 17, 2011, 10:22am

Ok, cool.

Any chance of a bit of a guide or detail on how to do it?

Thanks

Beone · April 17, 2011, 10:29am

http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:Interface/VLAN
After creation of the necessary vlans, run hotspot setup on each created vlan, it’s pretty straigth forward.
If you have the right knowledge to start a wisp, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Kind regards

Atroman · April 17, 2011, 10:34am

I was looking for more clarity on how to tell the devices to talk to each hotspot? Manually configure the CPE’s address within the range of the specified VLAN?

Btw, please don’t patronise me. This is a support forum, I’m simply asking what the best method is for my problem.

Beone · April 17, 2011, 10:49am

Hi,

didn’t mean to patronise you, if it looked that way, i’m sorry
Not sure if I understand your question right, but when you run hotspot setup you choose the ip range distributed to the clients.
You configure CPE’s in the same subnet, but of course out of the client’s dhcp scope.
Does this answer your question?

Kind regards
B

fewi · April 17, 2011, 4:03pm

Depends on what network equipment you have and how sites connect.

Really, this isn’t a very elegant solution because Hotspots have to run on immediate layer three interfaces. Whatever the client’s router is (the device that carries the IP address they use as a default gateway) is the device that runs the Hotspot. Running that in a centralized location may sound nice, but requires that all traffic be bridged to the central router. Ugly. It would be considerably nicer to run a router per location and route traffic right there, and have a Hotspot on that router. Include router cost in the installation cost to recoup.

But if you’re going to bridge traffic to the central router then figuring out who to separate locations by VLAN very much depends on your current network layout, and what the CPE is capable of.