standalone hotspots with internal webserver

groovething · 06-10-2006

Hello everyone

A group of students, me included, from Utrecht University (the Netherlands) are trying to set up an internet art exhibition with a twist. We want to make open hotspots that aren't connected to the internet but will redirect all http requests to an internal webserver. People will then be asked to bring their laptops for a stroll in the city and look at local versions of the internet art from an entirely new perspective: not from their seats in their studyrooms, but outside, in the streets. Every artwork will be chosen to "fit" it's location.

Now, you might think that's a silly idea, but we're still going to do it

The only problem is: how do I setup 10 standalone hotspots?

- What I've done so far

While I have a lot of computer experience, I'm not very familiar with Linux. On top of that our budget is limited.. We've allready gathered a lot of various old computers. I also want to use Linux because I want the project to be "legal".

I was hoping to setup these hotspots with linksys WUSB11 USB adapters, since they cost only 5 euros, but from my research that will be difficult: they only support ad-hoc (right?) and Linux hates them. Buying 10 WRT54G's is too expensive unfortunately :-(

Let me write down some solid questions:

Is there a hotspot that:

supports USB wifi adapters, especially the WUSB11 v4
has a built-in webserver
allows for the DNS redirecting (e.g. noCat)

If it was a bootCD or is easy to install that would be great too.

I doubt there's an easy solution, heck, I doubt there's a solution that has all this at all. I've bene looking at this subject for a while now: zoneCD, lessnetworks, nocat, etc. But if you know of any cheap solution I'd love to hear it.

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated aswell. And offcourse you're welcome to come and visit the exhibition when it's ready. If you've gotten curious you can find more information at www.netniet.org (dutch language only right now).

Thorn · 06-10-2006

<shrug>It is kind of silly, and isn't new, but such things always seem to appeal to "artsy types." Similar things have been done in a lot of places.

Look at the ZoneCD. Use a cheap, used, older PC, and hang an older AP off of it. You can be up and running in 10 minutes.

Dutch · 06-10-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thorn

<shrug>It is kind of silly, and isn't new, but such things always seem to appeal to "artsy types." Similar things have been done in a lot of places.

Look at the ZoneCD. Use a cheap, used, older PC, and hang an older AP off of it. You can be up and running in 10 minutes.

... And bill the clients for 5 hours minimum... You got to make a living you know..

Dutch

groovething · 06-16-2006

Ok, I'll go the accesspoint way. Will any accesspoint be able to give access to a local webserver? Anything I should watch out for?

06-10-2006	#1 (permalink)
groovething Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2	standalone hotspots with internal webserver Hello everyone A group of students, me included, from Utrecht University (the Netherlands) are trying to set up an internet art exhibition with a twist. We want to make open hotspots that aren't connected to the internet but will redirect all http requests to an internal webserver. People will then be asked to bring their laptops for a stroll in the city and look at local versions of the internet art from an entirely new perspective: not from their seats in their studyrooms, but outside, in the streets. Every artwork will be chosen to "fit" it's location. Now, you might think that's a silly idea, but we're still going to do it The only problem is: how do I setup 10 standalone hotspots? - What I've done so far While I have a lot of computer experience, I'm not very familiar with Linux. On top of that our budget is limited.. We've allready gathered a lot of various old computers. I also want to use Linux because I want the project to be "legal". I was hoping to setup these hotspots with linksys WUSB11 USB adapters, since they cost only 5 euros, but from my research that will be difficult: they only support ad-hoc (right?) and Linux hates them. Buying 10 WRT54G's is too expensive unfortunately :-( Let me write down some solid questions: Is there a hotspot that: supports USB wifi adapters, especially the WUSB11 v4 has a built-in webserver allows for the DNS redirecting (e.g. noCat) If it was a bootCD or is easy to install that would be great too. I doubt there's an easy solution, heck, I doubt there's a solution that has all this at all. I've bene looking at this subject for a while now: zoneCD, lessnetworks, nocat, etc. But if you know of any cheap solution I'd love to hear it. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated aswell. And offcourse you're welcome to come and visit the exhibition when it's ready. If you've gotten curious you can find more information at www.netniet.org (dutch language only right now).

06-10-2006	#2 (permalink)
Thorn Did you do the math? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Villa Straylight Posts: 10,008	<shrug>It is kind of silly, and isn't new, but such things always seem to appeal to "artsy types." Similar things have been done in a lot of places. Look at the ZoneCD. Use a cheap, used, older PC, and hang an older AP off of it. You can be up and running in 10 minutes. __________________ Thorn Sex and Violence. You can't enjoy one, if you don't survive the other. (And that works both ways...)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-16-2006	#4 (permalink)
groovething Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2	Ok, I'll go the accesspoint way. Will any accesspoint be able to give access to a local webserver? Anything I should watch out for?