WorldSpot.net forum
English forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: WorldSpot on October 28, 2006, 10:16:17 am
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Hello everybody!
I will try to inform about WorldSpot.net new released features in this topic.
If you want to be informed by email for all new posts in this topic, please register in this forum and click on "notify".
If you have comments, feedback, bug report or whatever, feel free to make new topics.
- WorldSpot radius server is now compatible with the original chillispot UAM server. If you want to completely personalize you landing page, you can now setup your own web server. This only works with tickets accounts. Don't forget to change the uamsecret inside the hotspotlogin.cgi script to mach worldspot's uam secret.
- I finally removed the huge 'You are on a public hotspot managed by worldspot.net' on the welcome page. It is still there but smaller...
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Mac address tickets are released for testing. Now you can sell tickets for ANY wifi device, including wifi phones (or game consoles) that don't have web browsers! Or you can also register your personal PC for unlimited use without the need for registering.
To enable MAC address Authentication, you must enable MACAuth in dd-wrt. (or simply add "macauth" in chilli.conf)
Please keep in mind that the mac address is easily sniffed and duplicated in some wifi devices. It is NOT secure!
To register a MAC address: Simply create an private account whose login is the MAC address. (a mac address is 6 hexadecimal bytes in uppercase separated by a "-" : 00-AA-BB-CC-DD-EE ) For the password, the default chillispot MAC authentication password is "password". You can change this value by adding "macpasswd mypasswd" in chilli.conf or dd-wrt chillispot additionnal options. You can choose any access profile for the mac address.
How to get your user's device mac address?
It is a little tricky and needs some testing: You must ask your users to connect their wifi device to your hotspot ssid. Then they must switch it off after the ip address was assigned by chillispot. Your user must note the time at which the connection was done and give it to you. In the hotspot history you will get an MAC_UNKNOWN entry with a message 'ticket "the mac address" not found'. You can then copy paste the mac address into a new private account. You must ask your user not to switch on the device before 10 minutes after it was off. Switching off the device during 10 minutes is the only way I found for chilispot to make a new authentication request. If the device is switched on before the 10 minutes, there won't be any new mac address authentication request made, and the device will still considered as unauthenticated. As the device does not have a web browser, it cannot login nor logout, the device must be switched off during 10 minutes to be considered as disconnected.
If your access profile limit is reached temporarly, and you must reconnect, you must switch the device off during 10 minutes.
I hope you will like this feature, as more and more wifi phones, nintendo or playstation wifi devices come out.
Feedback on that feature welcome.
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You can now edit tickets.
Simply create a ticket with an existing login, it will now overwrite the ticket and reset its state.
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You can now delete all tickets. Your history will show entries with no name or tickets.
Note: There are probable bugs left, when deleting things (tickets/profile/hotspots). It is quite complicated to keep the database consistent. If you get errors, please post a bug report.
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Full hotpost landing page customization released.
You can now remove the WorldSpot topbar and left menus in your landing page and replace them by your own content.
To do that, go in the hotspot configuration page and click on "Create a custom page". A second wysiwyg area will appear with the default worldspot decoration. You can then replace it all with your own logos and look.
Make sure sure you keep a %(content) marker inside the html. This marker will be replaced by the existing content.
There is still the welcome message that is displayed only on the first landing page.
Hope you like it!
I will try to add options to simplify even more the landing pages.
Note: This feature could be made only available with the ticket service.
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More landing page customizations!
In the hotspot configuration page, you now have 3 more options:
- Users connect directly after identification:When checked, your hotspot users will now connect automaticaly just after they enter their identification. When not checked, users will still be presented a new checkbox near the identification form that will allow them to connect direcly.
- Show minimal information in the landing page:This option removes the "other users connected" and the "statistics" in the landing page, making it simpler.
- Tickets require registration before use: With this option, you can now force your users to register and validate before they can use their tickets. Tickets will no more be accessible to unregistered users. This make the hotspot usage a bit more complicated, but all your hotspot users are now email validated.
Email validation session anti abuse system
From now, a wifi device will be allowed only 1 email validation session (per week). If the user tries to register again and get a new email validation session, he will be blocked.
Mac address hiding
Mac address are now hidden in the "other people connected"
I hope you will like these features. As the landing page code gets more and more complicated because of all these options (and it will be more and more), I need to get some feedback on possible bugs remaining. Thanks.
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Realtime replicated server available
I've setup a temporary backup server. It is a real time replication of the main server.
You can test it at http://www2.worldspot.net
You can also test the url http://pool.worldspot.net which is a round robin dns entry which points to both servers.
radius2.worldspot.net already points to the backup server. This means that if you use both radius and radius2, you will get high availability radius service.
However, the landing page on secure.worldspot.net only points to the main server. This means that you won't get high availability because of that. I will try to make script that monitor both servers and configure chillispot to get high availability.
If you can't reach worldspot website, try http://www2.worldspot.net
Can't reconnect after chillispot reboot issue resolved
When changing a chilispot setting in dd-wrt, chillispot does not send the STOP request to worldspot.
Before you could not reconnect because worldspot thought you were already connected, and had to wait a long time before you can reconnect.
Now there is a system that detects such case, and you can reconnect as soon as the hotspot is rebooted.
You should then see a 'STOP_FORCED' in the hotspot history
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Multiple usage tickets
Multiple usage tickets is for people lazy managing the mass ticket creation and ticket printing. With this feature, you can use one login/password to setup an access limitation for all your users.
When you create a ticket, you can now set this option. Then people can connect simultaneously on multiple devices. The limitations are managed per device. For example, if you limit a 1h access per day, you will get 1 hour per day per device.
It can be also very useful for a trial service. For example, you can setup a 10 minutes multiple usage test ticket and give the login/password in the welcome page. It will be usable only once per device.
User registration and tickets
Now when a registered user use a ticket, you will get both user name and ticket name in the history.
Usage is compatible with multiple usage tickets.
There have been some major changes in the landing page code that you might not notice.
Coming soon is a simplification of the landing page configuration. When you don't need user registration validation, users will connect to free access profiles without registering. The free access limitation will work with a per device basis.
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Anonymous access
Now, for free accesses, when you don't require user validation, users don't have to register no more. The limitations are handled per mac address. In the hotspot history, the users appears as "anonymous".
In the future, the "require validated users" and "tickets require registration before use" will be merged.
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Automatic limitation reset changed (Time to wait to reset limitation)
The behaviour has changed to something better for users.
Before, the limitations had to be reached before the reset could occur.
Now the limitations are automaticaly reseted when the renew time is reached and when the user reconnect.
Coming next is a simple online billing system with paypal API express checkout.
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Online Billing is released!
You can now fully automate your hotspot using Paypal online billing.
You get the highest revenue share of the market: 75% of your hotspot revenue go directly to your paypal account.
Please read the documentation (http://worldspot.net/wk/Main/en/Doc#OnlineBilling) to setup online billing on your hotspot in few minutes.
Few other changes
Some menu structure change
The hotspot history has changed. You can now select all hotspot, and display any number of entries. There will be more features soon.
You can now have a per ticket history.
Next step will be the monthly fees for tickets and online billing. You will also be able to share the revenues with other third parties.
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CoovaAP hotspot automatic configuration
Worldspot is now compatible with the new coovaAP firmware (http://coova.org) automatic hotspot configuration system.
Once the coova firmware is installed and the wifi access is setup and working without encryption
- go in hotspot/configuration.
- in hotspot type, Select "Chillispot UAM"
- in autoconfiguration, select "Web url"
- in Web config URL, put https://secure.worldspot.net/wk/Coova?spot=<hotspotName>&pass=<yourAccountPassword>(replace the <...>)
- leave config name and config password (unused yet)
- in config interval, put 3600
Then click in save changes.
When all your changes are made, click in "config changes pending" (upper right), then click in apply change.
Wait some time, and your hotspot should be running.
If you make a mistake in the url parameters, you should get a demo worldspot configuration.
NOTE: if you don't want to use your account password in the url, you can use the hotspot radius secret (in display config info) like this instead:
https://secure.worldspot.net/wk/Coova?spot=<hotspotName>&secret=<hotspotRadiusSecret>
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Landing page choice sorting
The access profile choices are now sorted according to the access profile name. (not description)
The free profiles are still displayed before the paying ones.
Full detail display in choices
There is now an additionnal option to the the access profile description details in the choices.
Ticket List sorting by start date
You can now display tickets sorted with startdate.
Stuck connection state bug corrected
Before, when setting a profile without a renew time, and the connetion gets finished, it was stuck to finished even if a renew time is set.
It now has been rewritten. It has been tested a lot, but it is realy hard to validate fully. If you notice something wrong, please post a message.
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Subscription system
Ticket system trial period will end at may 15th. You can subscribe today, as all first subscription periods will end at june 15th.
Second Worldspot server moved to the USA
The second worldspot server is now moved to the united states. It is a fully functionnal real time replicated server.
It acts as a backup server or a main server if your are located close to the USA.
You can access this server at these addresses:
http://us.worldspot.net
http://www2.worldspot.net
radius2.worldspot.net also points to it.
For users who are far from europe, you will soon be able to switch to it as soon as an ssl certificate is setup correctly. This will be done in the next week. Instructions will follow.
There is still a third backup server that will be enabled if one of the 2 main servers fail.
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Subscription system activated!
Thanks for using WorldSpot.net!
Referral program
If you have a website and advertise about worldspot services, you will be reversed 10% of revenues generated by each referred up to 30 euros
Referral program will become active when you reach at least 5 referred users that generate revenue.
Reseller program
You can now create sub accounts for your clients so you can setup their hotspot and support them
You will be reversed 30% of revenues generated by your client up to 60 euros, then you will get 10% for life.
Reseller program will become active when you reach at least 5 clients that generate revenue.
In the future, you will be able to resell unbranded worldspot service with your own subscription prices, and earn much more money.
NOTE: Generated revenue means credits that are spent (not bought) by the referred user or client. It does not include the bonus part of the credits (free bonus credits and paypal fees). It also includes online billing revenue share. Paypal fee is at your charge.
IMPORTANT: You must agree not to use these programs for reselling or referring yourself. Your account will be closed if abuse is detected.
NOTE: Payments will not start before july 2007. More features will come soon. Today you will have to use your own email, then ask your client to change it.
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US server ssl certificate is setup
https://secure2.worldspot.net is up and running
You can also use the url: http://us.worldspot.net for accessing the website and forum.
If you are closer to the United States and find the US server more responsive, you can now switch your hotspot configuration to use it first.
You MUST switch the radius servers also, otherwise there could be reliability problems.
radius server 1: radius2.worldspot.net
radius server 2: radius.worldspot.net
uamserver (redirect url): https://secure2.worldspot.net/wk/Uam
Edit: The hotspot landing page picture uploads are now synchronized every hours.
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Ticket bundle extension
You can now extend existing ticket bundles by adding new tickets in it.
In the ticket creation page, just select the bundle, and click on generate.
You can now display and print bundles from a defined number.
Timezone
You can now select your timezone in your account settings. If you prefer another date format display please make a post in the wish list section.
Mac addresses in your hotspot history
client and hotspot mac addresses are now shown in the hotspot session history.
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Redirect Url option
You can now redirect your users to any web url after your users are connected.
Note:
- this is a simple redirection after connecting. You should add in your website a link to the chillispot redirection to go back to the hotspot landing page to get a status, or to logout.
This link should be http://192.168.182.1:3990 to get a connection status, or http://192.168.182.1:3990/logout to directly logout.
For coova users, the url is http://10.1.0.1:3660 or http://10.1.0.1:3660/logout
I've made attempts to create a popup to the hotspot status and logout, but it is blocked by browsers popup blockers.
I also tried to add a frame, but internet explorer make a warning because the secured page include a non secured page.
I will keep on investigating on this.
Please also note there is another viable alternative to this redirection. Chillispot has an option: uamhomepage=<your url>
When you add this option in dd-wrt additionnal options, your users will be redirected first to your home page.
Your homepage should then contain a link to http://192.168.182.1:3990 to go into the hotspot landing page where your users will be able to connect.
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I haven't updated this post since quite a long time, sorry for that.
There have been quite some changes since:
Ticket printing with new profiledesc keyword for an automatic description of your ticket without having to create a lot of ticket models
Hotspot mac address aliases: With worldspot you have the choice of using the same configuration between all your hotspots and share the nasID and secret. Your hotspots will be only identified by their mac addresses. With this you can assign a name to your hotspot mac address.
Subscription last usage date: In order to help you manage your subscriptions, the date of the last time your subscription has been used is now displayed in the subscription page. Don't forget that you can change at any time the hotspot mac address to which your subscription is locked to.
Hotspot cloning: You can now create a new hotspot by copying one of your existing hotspot
User emails: From now, your users emails are available in the connection history. They are not displayed in a specific column. You have to move the mouse over a user name and the email will appear in a baloon. Note that you may not use these email addresses to send unsolicited emails.
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Unbranded service
If you don't want that anybody knows that your hotspot is managed by WorldSpot.net online service, you can subscribe to the "unbranded service" option.
Another domain and ssl certificate has been setup without any mention to WorldSpot.net website.
Price: 4 credits per hotspot per month
Your hotspots under your own domain
It is also possible for you to have all WorldSpot.net services under your own domain name.
For a yearly fee, your domain ssl certificate will be setup on WorldSpot.net servers.
Please contact WorldSpot for more details.
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New hotspot option: Don't remember last ticket
This option is useful for locations which have a shared computer for accessing the internet.
When enabled, worldspot will not remember the last ticket that was used on the computer on the previous session. Everytime you get back on the portal page and when you are not connected, you will be asked about your ticket code.
Note: This only applies on anonymous tickets (tickets that are not used through a registered account)
WorldSpot now accept US dollars
You now have the choice of buying your worldspot credits using US dollars. The exchange rate is exactly the forex rate which is updated every 20 min. If you are not using dollars, payments in euros are prefered.
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Online billing now doesn't need any registration
Online billing has been rewritten so that users don't have to register anymore.
The paypal "buy now" logo is directly displayed on the portal page.
Once the user pays, a new ticket is created in a bundle having the same name as the access profile.
The ticket login is the user first name and last name (dclared in paypal)
The password is generated following the bundle rules (4 digits by default)
Tickets login and passwords are now case insensitive
Their maximum login length is now 50 characters (15 for the password)
Please check if you don't have any conflicts in your ticket list.
Your users can now enter abcdef or ABCDEF or Abcdef.
Tickets now support empty password
There will be a mode where no password is entered. only a code in the login.
Note that this may be a serious security hole, as the communication between worldspot and chillispot only encrypts the password.
The login is given in clear text and can be sniffed.
The anonymous user tickets and connection state are no longer kept
This is true only for non coova based hotspots (dd-wrt)
Because of a potential security hole, the user could change the mac address in the url and connect with tickets of another user.
With coova-chilli, changing the mac address is protected with a checksum making this impossible.
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This topic hasn't beed updated since years.
There have been quite a number of new features since...
Sorry for that.