NoCat::Accounting::DBI

As i mentioned in a previous post, I have patched NoCat (in development - not released) on the ZoneCD with the pogozone radius/accounting patch. The problem was that the patch left me with two options to send the data to Radius, or a File. Well, i really didn't like either option so i hacked out a third option - MySQL. I have completed the NoCat::Accounting::DBI package that uses the pogozone patch and sends the accounting output to a local MySQL db.

Here is an example table that was created by my NoCat::Accounting::DBI patch.

If anybody wants the patch for their home brewed NoCat gateway, let me know...

ZoneCD .2-5 (beta) available for download

This will be the first minor release in a series of beta releases. From experience with releasing new iso's I have found that minor changes hardly require a new official release for everyone. I would rather stick them on my server for download and testing by the users that requested the new features.

This release adds two new features to the ZoneCD. Static IP configuration, and the headless helper. Static IP configuration is accomplished by adding a file named static.conf to a floppy. The file should have this syntax or format:

IP 192.168.0.101
MASK 255.255.255.0
GATE 192.168.0.100
DNS1 12.12.12.12
DNS2 12.12.12.13

The other new feature is something I refer to as the headless helper. I have added a series of beeps to indicate a successful boot. Also if you log in to Zone Control and click on the "Hotspot Statistics" link you can check to receive Boot logs. When the system finishes booting you will be emailed a file name init.log. This file contains a few details about what happened during the boot. More importantly it will list all the running processes and your network configuration so you can confirm everything started properly. Pretty cool...

Get 'em here: http://www.publicip.org/mirror/dists/beta/

ZoneCD Session Management (accounting)

Making progress on accounting for user session tracking. I have updated NoCat with the pogozone radius/accounting patch and have tested it sending the output to File.


time=1084767718
action=update
sessionid=811148756
user=client@website.com
gateway=10.10.10.1
ip=10.10.10.100
mac=00:40:05:8f:d3:82
inoctets=191604
outoctest=43067
sessiontime=1171


This is the data that is available per user session. The output is tweaked a little from the default patch. I have started writing a NoCat::Accounting::DBI package to save the data to mysql. If "Timed Sessions" are enabled in nocat.conf, NoCat will check the local mysql db on the ZoneCD to allow the client through or block the client's access.

Floppy static.conf

Got this done... The next release will have an option to configure Eth0 (the Internet or wired side of the gateway) to use a static ip address. To make this happen you would place a file on the floppy named static.conf. The contents would be like this:

IP 192.168.0.101
MASK 255.255.255.0
GATE 192.168.0.100
DNS1 12.12.12.12
DNS2 12.12.12.13


I am having issues with compiling iso's again. First X was failing... fixed that - then sudo was failing... fixed that - now mutt is failing... Hopefully i have the iso ready by tomorrow for anyone that would like to test it...

Major todo's

I have been taking-it-easy for about a month... watching and taking notes
on what you guys are doing or wanting to do.

Here's the "todo" list for the next ZoneCD release...

1). ZoneCD Web UI with:

• Password Protection


• End-User session ID with session start stop times (accounting)


• Timed sessions (1 hour, 2 hours, etc..)


• Persistent MAC Blocking/Deny


• Interface to modify and save NoCat Configuration (floppy required)
  
  

2). Zone User Class - See the list of other posts....


3). Verify email of registered user - [optional] The end-user
will have a predefined amount of time to access their registered email account
and validate their email address before getting blocked.


4). "Station Identification" or "Virtual
Placemat" - [optional] An option to replace the login popup
window with a redirect to a web page. The web page will be setup to contain
your location details and/or advertising with a "Continue" button
to send the user where they were going....


5). Headlesss Helper - [optional] A way to confirm a succesfull startup for systems that are not using any input/output devices like a monitor, keyboard, or mouse. Might just be a beep, or it could be an email alert with boot log.


6). Eth0 Static IP - You will be able to use a file(static.conf) on the floppy to assign a static IP to Eth0. The ZoneCD will read this file during boot to configure the network parameters.

Zone User Class is next....

The Zone User Class is the next big feature i will be implementing. This is a class that will be defined/customized by the administrator inside the Public IP Zone Control login area. The firewall rules(open ports) and many content filter rules will be configured from a new interface in Zone Control and downloaded to the ZoneCD during boot time. You will also be able to define the Zone User Class as the default user class. This means that all your new registered users will be assigned to the Zone User Class instead of the Public Class....

We got groups

The Authserver upgrade was completed last night with only a couple complications which were quickly rectified.
Go group yourself.......

Groups of groups

Well, I am just about finished with the group logic. It should be made available tonight.... When it's ready there will be a link inside Zone Control named "Group Management". You will find the interface to setup your groups there...