Forcing first page

Just a question I've been pondering every since I visited a hotel over
the summer...

How do you force a first page on a wireless network?

For example, Joe connects to a Hotel wireless network...before he can
reach the internet, he is presented with a front page where he must
agree to TOS and click to continue...

How can you force the viewing of that first page on a wireless network?
I'm not talking about an "in-house" robust network (with a proxy
server), but can this be done from the router?

Can you set up a web server as part of the WAN that forces the showing
of that first page?

I've seen it done a dozen times, but I can't figure it out.


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linkery <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>Just a question I've been pondering every since I visited a hotel over
>the summer...
>
>How do you force a first page on a wireless network?

It's a feature of the router firmware called a "splash page".
For example:
<http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/NoCatSplash>

If the initial page requires a user response, it's somewhat more
complex. If all they need to do is click "approve", then it can be
done with just NoCatSplash. However, if it asks for a login or
password, it usually comes from an external RADIUS or SQL server.

The mechanism is simple. Whenever you request a web page from the web
server, it checks if your IP, MAC, session, or login has approval or
authorization. If you do, you get your desired web page. If not, you
always get the same pre-defines web page (which incidentally can be in
the router, or externally on the web or nearby file server.
--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558