----- Forwarded message from "C. R. Oldham" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----- Subject: RE: Forced DHCP setup Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 14:59:50 -0700 Thread-Topic: Forced DHCP setup thread-index: AcKAXvIhf9+r261WRXev1Z9laq2INAAAKyng
> I don't believe it's possible to have a user log in to get an IP. It is possible, in hotels that have broadband in rooms, and on some university campuses I've been too they have a DHCP server setup to serve addresses from a private block. On that network there is a webserver setup to intercept any http request coming from a client in the private block and redirect the user to a page where he/she has to login. On login a cgi (or some such) makes a change in the DHCP database to allocate the user a "real" IP. The user gets instructions on the ensuing webpage to do a release/renew and boom they are setup. A lot of hotels and public areas use a box from Nomadix that will accept ANY ip that a client has, even duplicates, and allow the client to maintain the ip that's set. This is particularly excellent when Joe Traveller plugs into the wall outlet with his laptop from the office that's configured for 172.16.104.12/24 and the hotel uses 192.168.34.0/20 for it's normal DHCP range. These nomadix boxes do nearly all their work based on MAC address and don't really care what ip anyone has. Same for DNS queries, it sees a DNS query anywhere on the network? It answers. Sending mail? Port 25 gets pushed through the Nomadix too. It's all at the MAC layer for those devices. That would be a great way to make what you want work, is at the MAC layer instead of the IP layer. Of course, it's a lot more work as it's less common, but I think someone mentioned NoCatAuth in the thread - pursue that - it might be helpful. The Nomadix info is proprietary and not Open Source.... can't use that. HTH j