Wireless
Technology Links
Wireless networking technology, and the products based on it, are changing
rapidly. The field is exploding as thousands of hardware and software
companies attempt to meet the increasingly varied demands of the marketplace.
Much of this innovation is not directly applicable to the needs of libraries
providing wireless public Internet access, however.
The links below include both some good general information, but are
heavily weighted toward products and techniques that support library-based
wireless hotspot services.
WiMAX
Articles
Master Sites
Products
Open Source Hotspot Software
Open source developers have been busy contriving software
to create and manage wireless hotspots. Their efforts mostly focus on
the Linux operating system, either running on a stand alone PC or implanted
into a wireless access point.
- ChilliSpot is an open source
captive portal or wireless LAN access point controller. It is used
for authenticating users of a wireless LAN. It supports web based login
which is today's standard for public HotSpots and it supports Wireless
Protected Access (WPA) which is the standard of the future. Authentication,
authorization and accounting (AAA) is handled by your favorite radius
server.
- EWRT -- A linux
distribution for the Linksys WRT54G wireless router. It was forked
from the Sveasoft Samadhi2 distribution by Irving Popovetsky and Brandon
Psmythe of Portless Networks, a wireless networking company in Portland,
OR. The goal of the project is to maintain a stable and secure platform
for use in enterprise and wireless ISP environments while providing
key features to compete with commercial-grade wireless solutions like
Cisco and Proxim. At the time of writing, ewrt differentiates itself
from the other WRT54G distributions by providing a captive portal based
on NoCatSplash, has many bugs fixed over Linksys and Sveasoft, and
provides an open, transparent development model.
- LinksysWrt54g
- NoCatAuth,
the premier Open Source captive portal software.
- OpenWrt is a linux distribution
for the Linksys WRT54G
- Sesame: A Network
Authentication System and Dynamic Firewall
- ZoneCD -- " Public IP
provides hotspot operators with an extremely simple, highly versatile,
FREE, open
source hotspot solution. Public IP's ZoneCD is freely distributed
software that has been created to help implement safe, free, WiFi hotspots.
The ZoneCD can be used by all levels of free WiFi providers, from experienced
programmers to coffee house cashiers. Setting up a free WiFi Hotspot
can be as easy as hooking up an access point, popping in a CD and rebooting… "
- About: Wireless
Networks and Services
Commercial Hotspot Software
- FirstSpot is
a Windows-based Wi-Fi hotspot management software (sometimes also known
as hotspot access controller or wireless gateway) designed to track
and secure your WLAN visitor-based networks or hotspots in a centralized
way. Based on captive portal technology, FirstSpot™ lets your
hotspot users to login simply by a web browser.
- ControlAP
- " Access Point controller software to run your own Hotspot"
- SVEASoft -- "Upgrading your Linksys WRT54G or GS with
the Sveasoft firmware will turn your router into a powerhouse
with just a mouse click. Sveasoft firmware and support
is available for a yearly $20 USD subscription fee."
