InterCafe Hotspot Billing

Transcription

1

2 This manual and the appendant software belong to blue image GmbH Germany and are subject to the appendant license agreements and copyright regulations blue image GmbH Manual Version of May 9, Important Notice: The software is constantly being expanded and improved. Therefor it is possible that this manual is not yet showing all functions of the software. Please inform yourself about new versions of the manual on our homepage The blue image GmbH Germany assumes no liability for the correctness of this documentation. Page 2

3 Contents 1 General Description Functionality of the Software Application Area Advantages of this system Hardware Requirements Important Legal Information Installation Installation of the Software Connecting the WLAN-Server Network Configuration Configuration with network cable Configuration with access point Configuration of WLAN-Server Settings for Standalone WLAN Tariffs Options Tools Info Settings for as Special Module WebBlock Options Tools Version Customer Login Login Prepaid Cards Status window Credit Logout Attachment Frequently Asked Questions Layout Standalone Layout as Special Module Page 3

4 Chapter 1 General Description 1.1 Functionality of the Software The Software provides an easy and secure method for hotspot billing in hotels, cybercafes and other public places where customers bring their own computers and laptops. With this software you do not need any installation on the customer computers. To ensure a high level of security this billing system is based on the operating system LINUX. The software runs as Live-CD so you do not need any LINUX skills for the installation and configuration of the system. Billing works for all customer computers, no matter if they are using a hotspot connection or if you provide network outlets where the customer can connect his computer by plugging in a network cable (for example in hotel rooms). The WLAN-Server automatically assigns IP addresses to the customer computers by a local DHCP-Server. The customer computers are being separated from the local network by the integrated firewall. If necessary you can decide to use the integrated content filter WebBlock so that your customers will not be able to access any websites that need to be blocked by law (depending on the law in your country). There are two different options of the system: ˆ the Standalone version: for this system there is no InterCafe Server needed. The customer can login by entereing a code of a PrepaidCard at his lapto. The price per hour can be defined by the owner of the hotspot. ˆ the Special Module for InterCafe 2004: the InterCafe Server is necessary for this system to create tariffs, member accounts and LoginCodes. The customer can login by entering a code of a PrepaidCard or LoginCode or by entering nickname and password of a member account at his laptop. Prepaid Cards can be ordered from your dealer or directly from blue image. 1.2 Application Area The Software can bill computers that are connected by a wireless access point as well as computers that are connected with a network cable to a switch or provided network outlets. It is recommended to provide network outlets in addition to the wireless access point because not all customer laptops do have a wireless interface. All common operating systems and browsers can be used on the customer computers as long as they support SSL. Page 4

5 1.3 Advantages of this system ˆ very secure LINUX based system (integrated firewall) ˆ connection of the customer computer by hotspot or cable possible ˆ prices and tariffs can be defined in the configuration ˆ you can define several tariffs (for example special tariff for VIP guests or different tariffs for different Prepaid Cards depending on the value of the card) ˆ very low hardware expenses (PC with CD-ROM-drive only) ˆ no commitments to any provider ˆ easy to configurate (no LINUX or professional computer skills required) ˆ integrated content filter WebBlock (optional) 1.4 Hardware Requirements To use the Software you need a PC with a CD-ROM-drive, two network interfaces and a USB stick (recommended) or a floppy drive. The hardware needs to be Linux-compatible (x86 processor). We recommend at least 1000 MHz and 256 MB main memory. For the connection of the customer computers you need at least one access point or a conventional network (connection through switch and network outlets). The internet connection works with a gateway (for example a DSL-router). Required hardware: ˆ Linux compatible computer with two network interfaces and a CD-ROM drive ˆ USB-stick or floppy (+ port/drive) ˆ Hotspot access point or network outlets for customer computers ˆ Router and other necessary network components For the Special Module you need to have an extra Windows computer with the InterCafe 2004 Server Software. 1.5 Important Legal Information According to the telecommunication law (Telekommunikationsgesetz) you need to notify the regulatory authority within one month in written form about the start, change or end of any telecommunication business and service that you offer. This means that it is obligatory to register your access point as soon as it is being used for business. Even if you are offering the free use of the access point you still need to register because the access point is part of your business (for example hotel, restaurant, internet cafe). This information is valid for Germany - if you are using the Software in other countries please inform yourself about the local laws and regulations. We would like to point out that we cannot give any binding legal advice to you. For legal advice please contact a lawyer. Page 5

6 Chapter 2 Installation This chapter describes the installation and configuration of the WLAN-Server. 2.1 Installation of the Software Download the ISO-Image of the Software from the internet. Burn this ISOfile as image on CD. If you need help for burning an image please read the instructions of your CD burning program. 2.2 Connecting the WLAN-Server Connect the WLAN-Server to the power and the local network and insert the Boot-CD into the CD-ROM drive. Change the boot sequence to CD in the BIOS of the computer. Plug in the USB-stick or insert an empty or formatted floppy into the floppy drive. You do not need to connect a monitor or a keyboard. 2.3 Network Configuration Configuration with network cable Connect a computer (for example a laptop) to the first network interface of the WLAN-Server by using a cross-over cable or a switch (with network outlet). This computer should automatically get an IP-address from the WLAN-Server (IP-address range ). Please note that the computer needs to be able to receive IP-addresses automatically. If the computer should not get the IP-address automatically you need to connect the computer to the other network interface of the WLAN-Server. The network interface which provides the IP-addresses is called the WLAN network interface. You might want to mark this interface with a little sticker for future configurations Configuration with access point Enter the IP-address in the access point and connect it to the WLAN network interface at the WLAN-Server. Now follow the directions given in Configuration with network cable. Deactivate the DHCP-Server at the Access Point and activate the Bridged-Mode. Page 6

7 2.4 Configuration of WLAN-Server To configurate the WLAN-Server for your local network you need to connect a computer (for example a laptop) with a cross-over cable or a switch to the WLAN network interface. Alternatively the connection can also be wireless by using the hotspot access point. Open a browser and enter the following URL: Confirm the security advice that will be displayed with YES. You will see the start page of the Software. The configuration works with a Java-applet. Please make sure that you are using JDK Version 1.5 or higher (Download from Depending on the current networksettings of the Hotspot Gateway you will see the one of the following configuration setups: ˆ Standalone: runs as standalone version. Standalone needs to be activated in the network configuration. ˆ Special Module: runs as special module with InterCafe Server. The IP of the InterCafe Server needs to be set in the network configuration. When clicking on Start you will be asked to enter the username and password. The username is always admin; the standard password is also admin. You can later change the password in the settings of the configuration. Page 7

8 After the authentification has been successful you can start with the configuration. First you should define the network settings. When starting the configuration for the first time you will automatically see the options. Double check all data that you enter because a wrong entry might cause the WLAN-Server to be impossible to reboot. The changes that you make in the configuration are being saved on the USB-stick or a floppy when the WLAN-Server is shut down. If you start the configuration for the first time you will automatically see the options so that you can define the network settings. You will find more information on how to define these settings in the following chapters of this manual. Page 8

9 2.5 Settings for Standalone With the Manager you can define all settings that are necessary for the use of the standalone version, such as tariff, network and WebBlock settings WLAN Status This overview shows all active customer PCs with the according LoginCode, minutes and remaining surf credit. Right mouse click on an entry shows the status of the PC and the PC can be logged out. PC-ID IP-address of the customer PC User the according LoginCode Tariff the tariff Minutes time since login Credit remaining surf credit. If using a flatrate the time until the end of the flatrate period will be displayed. Page 9

10 Statistic Here you can see the statistic report if it has been activated in the options. The statistic report only shows data of past surf sessions, current (still running) surf sessions cannot be displayed. all entries Choose this option to get a complete list of all logins. single user Choose this option to get a list of all logins of one specific customer (LoginCode). show entries for the following timespan only You can choose the timespan for which you wish to see the report. If this option is not set you will see all entries. Save By clicking on this button you can save the displayed report as CSV-file on your local computer. Refresh Click this button to refresh the statistic data from the WLAN-Server. Page 10

11 2.5.2 Tariffs Here you can define the tariffs for the Software. Create Tariffs You can create as many tariffs as you wish. Enter the tariff name, the price per hour and define a minimum amount that is being charged at every login. Please double check that the tariff names for Prepaid Cards have to be exactly like the name the is given to you by the dealer or blue image when purchasing Prepaid Cards (ask your dealer or blue image for more information on Prepaid Cards). Edit Tariffs Select a tariff and click on Edit. Delete Tariffs Select a tariff and click on Delete. The tariff will be completely deleted. Page 11

12 2.5.3 Options Save all changes by clicking on Apply. If the network settings have been changed the WLAN- Server has to be restarted to save the changes. All other changes are saved without a restart of the PC. After the restart you need to get a new IP-address. This can be done through the network settings of the network interface or by clicking on Windows Start, Run and entering the command ipconfig /renew. General Here you can define the settings for the customer login. Language Select the language which you wish to be displayed as standard language at the customer computers. Currency Define the currency in which you wish the surf credit to be displayed. Login Type Select the type of customer login. If using the standalone version please choose Login- Code. Welcome Message Enter the text which you wish to be displayed in the login mask at the customer computers. Page 12

13 Network Settings Define the network settings first. The WLAN-Server needs to reboot at the end of the configuration. Please double check if a USB-stick or floppy is plugged in/inserted so that the configuration can be saved. IP Enter the IP-address that the WLAN-Server has in the local network. This IP-address has to be static (no DHCP-Server). Subnetmask Enter the subnetmask. Gateway Enter the IP-address of the router that is used for the connection to the internet. Double check that the firewall of the router does not block the WLAN-Server. DNS Leave this field empty. The integrated DNS-Server or the root-dns-server are used automatically. If there are any problems with the domain name service you can enter the DNS-Server here. InterCafe IP/Standalone Here you can choose wether you are using the standalone version or the special module. If you select the option standalone or enter the IP , the configuration for the standalone version will be started. Page 13

14 Admin Here you can make changes in the admin settings. Password Define the password for the configuration. Statistic Here you can activate the statistic. Page 14

15 Activate statistic If you want to get statistic reports from the WLAN-Server you can activate this funtion here. The statistic reports are saved on USB-stick or floppy when the WLAN-Server is being shut down. Date Select the date format that you wish to use for the statistics. Show time If you want the time to be displayed on the statistics please acitvate this feature here and select the time format you wish to use Tools Here you can shut down or reboot the system, sync the time and configurate the content filter WebBlock. System Here you can shut down or reboot the WLAN-Server. To save the configuration or statistic a USB-stick needs to be plugged in or a floppy needs to be inserted in the floppy drive. Page 15

16 Time Here you can see the time of the local computer (the computer which you use for the configuration of the WLAN-Server) and the time of the WLAN-Server. With Apply you can apply the time from the local computer to the WLAN-Server. WebBlock Here you can configurate the WebBlock content filter software. Page 16

17 Registration Here you can enter the demo key of the registration data for the WebBlock content filter software. Black List Enter domains that you wish to be blocked in the Black List. White List Enter domains that you wish to be unblocked in the White List. Categories Select the categories that you wish to be blocked by the Webblock software. Delete Cache If a website is being entered for the first time the information the returns from the Global WebBlock Server (Domain blocked/unblocked) will be saved in the local cache for a faster request in future. Use the button Delete cache if you want to delete the information in the cache Info Version Here you can see the versions of the used software. Page 17

18 Registration Here you can enter the registration data for the software and the Cafe-ID for the Prepaid Cards. The network needs to be configured and the computer needs to have internet connection for the registration. The WebBlock content filter can be registered in Tools WebBlock. Page 18

19 2.6 Settings for as Special Module With the Manager you can define all settings that are necessary for the use of the billing software as special module with InterCafe Server, such as network and WebBlock settings. Using the special module together with the InterCafe Server allows you to define all tariff settings at the Server, including member account settings WebBlock Here you can configurate the WebBlock content filter software. Registration Here you can enter the demo key of the registration data for the WebBlock content filter software. Black List Enter domains that you wish to be blocked in the Black List. White List Enter domains that you wish to be unblocked in the White List. Categories Select the categories that you wish to be blocked by the Webblock software. Page 19

20 Delete Cache If a website is being entered for the first time the information the returns from the Global WebBlock Server (Domain blocked/unblocked) will be saved in the local cache for a faster request in future. Use the button Delete cache if you want to delete the information in the cache Options Save all changes by clicking on Apply. If the network settings have been changed the WLAN- Server has to be restarted to save the changes. All other changes are saved without a restart of the PC. After the restart you need to get a new IP-address. This can be done through the network settings of the network interface or by clicking on Windows Start, Run and entering the command ipconfig /renew. General Here you can define the settings for the customer login. Language Select the language which you wish to be displayed as standard language at the customer computers. Currency Define the currency in which you wish the surf credit to be displayed. Login Type Select the type of customer login. If using the standalone version please choose Login- Code. Page 20

21 Network Settings Define the network settings first. The WLAN-Server needs to reboot at the end of the configuration. Please double check if a USB-stick or floppy is plugged in/inserted so that the configuration can be saved. IP Enter the IP-address that the WLAN-Server has in the local network. This IP-address has to be static (no DHCP-Server). Subnetmask Enter the subnetmask. Gateway Enter the IP-address of the router that is used for the connection to the internet. Double check that the firewall of the router does not block the WLAN-Server. DNS Leave this field empty. The integrated DNS-Server or the root-dns-server are used automatically. If there are any problems with the domain name service you can enter the DNS-Server here. InterCafe IP/Standalone Here you can choose wether you are using the standalone version or the special module. Page 21

22 Admin Enter the IP-address of the InterCafe Server when using the billing software as special module. Here you can make changes in the admin settings. Password Define the password for the configuration. Page 22

23 2.6.3 Tools Here you can shut down or reboot the system and sync the time. System Here you can shut down or reboot the WLAN-Server. To save the configuration a USB-stick needs to be plugged in or a floppy needs to be inserted in the floppy drive. Page 23

24 Time Here you can see the time of the local computer (the computer which you use for the configuration of the WLAN-Server) and the time of the WLAN-Server. With Apply you can apply the time from the local computer to the WLAN-Server. Page 24

25 2.6.4 Version Here you can see the versions of the used software. Page 25

26 Chapter 3 Customer Login This chapter describes the use of the billing system on the customer computer. 3.1 Login As soon as the customer computer has connected to the WLAN-Server an IP-address will be assigned to the customer computer. If the customer wants to access a website in his browser the login page of the Software will be displayed on the webbrowser of the customer computer. Alternatively he can enter the command login in the address bar of the browser Prepaid Cards The customer has to enter a LoginCode from a Prepaid Card for the Login. Prepaid Cards can be purchased from the dealer or directly from blue image. The design of the cards is kept neutral (no company or product logos) and bilingual (German/English). There is a scratch field on the back of the card which shows the LoginCode when the lamination is being scratched off with a coin. This avoids any misusage of the code before the card has been sold to the end user. The LoginCodes have 12 digits and can be entered by using the Page 26

27 regular keyboard. No extra hardware is needed (no card readers). The cards are available with different value and can be used for any currency. As soon as the customer has logged in with a Prepaid Card a message for the successful login will be displayed and the status window that shows time and credit will be opended Status window The status window will be opened automtically at the login and shows the remaining minutes and credit. The customer can logout at any time to end the session by clicking on the button Logout. Page 27

28 3.2 Credit The current credit is being displayed in the status window. Alternatively the credit can be displayed by entering the command guthaben or credit in address bar of the browser. The status window can be closed buy clicking on the X. The credit will be charged until the customers logs out. 3.3 Logout The customer can logout by using the button Logout in the status window or by entering the command logout in the address bar of the browser. Page 28

29 The customer gets a confirmation message for the successful logout and the remaining credit will be displayed. If there is enough remaining credit (consider the mimimum charge for a new login) he can login again at a later time. Page 29

30 Chapter 4 Attachment 4.1 Frequently Asked Questions Why does the wireless connection get disrupted or why is the signal not strong enough? Walls and ceilings can cause the signal to disrupt or etremely decrease, additional antennas can increase the signal. The range within buildings averages from meters and can be expanded by additional antennas or access points. Which memory system is better, USB or Floppy? It is recommended to use a USB-Stick because it is much faster and offers larger capacity. What are the minimum requirements? ˆ 1000 GHz, 256 MB RAM or more, no hard drive necessary. Since the program is saved on CD the CD always has to stay in the CD-ROM drive. ˆ 2 network interfaces, (1 for the local cafe network, 1 for the access point) Which network settings are necessary? ˆ The WLAN-Server needs a static IP, which no other PC has in the network. ˆ Enter the IP of the router as gateway ˆ Leave the field DNS empty in the configuration! ˆ Enter the subnetmask of the cafe network as subnetmask in the network settings (e.g ) ˆ if anything went wrong when defining the network settings: boot without USB-stick or floppy and restart the configuration. Why can the login screen not be displayed? Most likely the data entered in the DNS field of the configuration is wrong. Solution: leave the DNS field emptry. Page 30

31 Why can the gateway not be found after the IP has been set? Leave the DNS field empty and try to ping the from the laptop. Why are two network interfaces needed? The WLAN-Server is connected to two network areas (cafe network and wireless lan network), therefor the PC needs two network interfaces. Which modus has the be preset at the access point? Set the access point to Bridged-Mode. What can I do if the PrepaidCards do not work? Double check the tariff name that you have entered, e.g. PrepaidEUR5. You receive the exact tariff name with the PrepaidCards from blue image. The laptop does not get an IP. What can I do? ˆ Connect the laptop with a Cross-Over cable. ˆ Alternatively try to use the other network interface of the WLAN-Server. How can I get to the configuration? You can enter the configuration by entering the command setup in the browser bar. Which special characteristics does the standalone version have? ˆ can only be operated with PrepaidCards, tariff and price per hour can be defined by owner ˆ very low administrative effort necessary due to the use of PrepaidCards ˆ Flatrate possible (e.g. daily flatrate, weekly flatrate) ˆ Simple tariff structure, no Happy Hour ˆ no Member Accounts Which special characteristics does the special module have? ˆ Login with Member Accounts and LoginCodes, which can be created in the InterCafe Server software ˆ Extensive tariff structure in the InterCafe Server ˆ Extensive statistic reports in the InterCafe Server ˆ Laptops are displayed in the computer overview at the InterCafe Server Page 31

32 4.2 Layout Standalone Page 32

33 4.3 Layout as Special Module Page 33