Using Hotspotsystem With Unifi Software/aps

  • Anonymous August 23, 2013 at 4:42 pm

    I have a question about using UniFi APs and UniFi software in conjunction with hotspotsystem.

    We have free wifi at our church facility. It will always be free (no vouchers, etc…simply a free service going forward). Essentially, a Cat5 cable comes off of our internal switch and connects to a Linksys WRT54GL router with the hotspot system firmware. At this time, this router serves the only user-access to public wifi. We use hotspotsystem to present a portal to these users with general TOS to be accepted by the user. We like the bandwidth controls and the scheduling capabilities in the hotspotsytem software, but our biggest benefit is that the public wifi users are isolated from the internal LAN due to the different address range offered by hotspotsystem. This, in our opinion, is a huge win so far as security in our current topology is concerned.

    Now, we want to expand our APs across our 25,000 sq ft campus. I’ve purchased one UniFi AP for testing, with the intention of purchasing 5-7 more in the near future if tests are successful. I’ve been looking at the software and see that we can create our own white-label hotspot system using UniFi APs and their software. This is certainly an option for us, but not ideal as we really want to stay with hotspotsystem. So my question is how we can point the UniFi software to use hotspotsystem, or, if this even possible. Is there a way to connect the APs to the hotspotsystem without the UniFi software (I understand THAT question may be best asked of UniFi).

    Basically, I’m looking for anyone who has experience in integrating UniFi APs with hotspotsystem. Maybe this question has already been addressed, and I’ve just missed the forum post. Any help/insight is greatly appreciated.

    Thanks!

    stevehars August 27, 2013 at 5:15 pm

    Hello,

    You can use it with Hotspotsystem right away. You need to connect the Unifi network to one of the Linksys router’s LAN ports, that serve the hotspot. You need to make sure, that the Linksys feeds the hotspot on the LAN ports as well. In this case the Unifi network (no matter how many devices it’s built from) will transmit the hotspot signal.
    Let us know if you had further questions upon implementing the network or during testing.

    Best Regards,
    Istvan Hars,
    Hotspotsystem.com

    Anonymous November 6, 2013 at 4:17 am

    Thank you for your reply. So if I’m understanding correctly, I should be able to turn off the wireless on the 54GL and use two wires from two LAN parts on the 54GL and connect two unifi APs to my 54GL running the hotspotsystem firmware, which is connected to the main network from the WAN port on the 54GL to a LAN port in the main switch, and it will work with the unifi APs…zero-handoff, too?

    If I install the Unifi control software on a PC, should this computer be connected to the main LAN or should it be connected to a LAN port on the 54GL?

    Our current configuration works perfectly where the guest wifi gives out a 192.168.20.x address to users, and no user can see the main network. I’m just looking to expand our coverage area, and it sounds like possibly we’re realyly close to accomplishing this goal.

    Your reply is appreciated.

    stevehars November 6, 2013 at 5:35 pm

    Hello,

    Yes, please use this firmware for the WRT54GL if you haven’t already done so: http://dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/others/eko/BrainSlayer-V24-preSP2/2013/07-24-2013-r22118/broadcom/dd-wrt.v24_std_generic.bin

    Please use this article to set up the LAN interface: http://www.hotspotsystem.com/hotspot_help/kb/articles/167-configuring-hotspot-interfaces-lan-and-wireless-ports-with-dd-wrt

    The Unifi controller could be seen if it’s connected above the WRT54GL (to the main LAN), but this should be configured in the local subnet. You can do this by either setting it in the WRT54GL with adding a host of ‘unifi’ and its IP address or by the following(ssh-ing into the Unifi APs):

    # 1. make sure the AP is running the latest (or 2.1.0+)

    # if it’s not, do

    # syswrapper.sh upgrade http://ip-of-controller:8080/dl/firmware/BZ2/version-of-ap-see-ref-table-below/firmware.bin

    # 2. make sure the AP is in factory default state

    # if it’s not, do

    # syswrapper.sh restore-default

    # 3. ssh into the device and type

    mca-cli

    # the CLI interface:

    set-inform http://ip-of-controller:8080/inform

    You can see this in http://wiki.ubnt.com/UniFi_FAQ

    Best Regards,

    Steve Hars,

    Hotspotsystem.com

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