SSL cert for Control Server

Sorry for the "wrong" cert installed on xml.publicip.net. I hate anything that pops up unexpectedly on the web... but this was done intentionally as part of the migration from the NoCat Authserver to the new Public IP Control Server. Once the new control server is ready for primetime, I will release a new ZoneCD that has the /etc/hosts file pointing ssl.publicip.net to the new server ip address. Dnsmasq already reads from /etc/hosts, and will point the wireless clients on your network to the new server. The cert will not be invalid for wireless users, because the domain name will match the cert.

In other words, if you go to ssl.publicip.net from your hotspot, you will see a different website then if you were on the regular Internet using real DNS. This should help make the move a little smoother for those that resist change.

Side note: If you want to have some fun open /etc/hosts on the ZoneCD and add a line that points www.google.com to your webite's ip (if you use named virtual hosting, you won't get good results)

No-NoCat Authserver

I successfully authenticated and accessed the Internet using the new authentication server tonight! As mentioned in earlier posts, the Control server that the ZoneCD is currently using for accounting is running on tomcat. The accounting programs are written in JAVA, soooo.... I re-wrote the authserver in JAVA too. It works beautifully!! I still have allot of work to do on the changes to the db structure and template/messages, but it should be done in a week or so....

This re-write gave me an opportunity to "do it right". No hacks. This system is designed from head-to-toe for what we are using it for... with all the added benefits of JAVA, and also db connection pooling. Aside from the programming, the design for the login pages has been improved and new functionality will be available. I'll update on the functionality more later...

New JAVA authentication program

I am a few days into my NoCat(Perl) Authserver -to- Public IP(JAVA) Controlserver rewrite. So far, so good.  Yes, I am tottally writing a new Authserver program from scratch to optimize the performance of the Public IP system.   NoCat isn't designed for what i am doing on the server side.  It's work's perfectly on the client side(ZoneCD), but it's a bit messy in the Authserver programs. 

Public IP Zone Control Server (beta)

Please begin using the new Control Server. You must update your ZoneCD Configuration to use XML accounting because the programs are still beta. Once i complete work on the server, and finish moving everything over, you won't have a choice. So it's in your best interest to make sure it works properly.

The Control server can be directly accessed from http://xml.publicip.net/ (i will probably be adding a new subdomain for human access) with your existing login. Please use the Control Freak forum to discuss problems and provide feedback on the new system.

Almost Zoned-Out

Those of you that are testing the new Zone Control Server, have undoubtedly noticed that the service is not 100% functional. I have been debugging several routines, as well as the programming logic for different time zones. It has not been a very pleasurable experience. Every time i think i got it figured out, i find another bug. Time zones suck.

Please select to use XML accounting in Zone Control. I am logging the shit out of the programs, so your use will help me find problems. Hopefully by the end of today(or July 23 0400 GMT), I will not be able to find any more bugs, and i will leave it up to you to point the rest out...

I'll post again when i am "done" working on the new Control server....

ZoneCD Version 0.3-1 Released!

CHANGES for 0.3-1
===================================================
Fixed static IP config bug;
Added dialog for Open mode homepage redirect;
Added NoCat::Remote::Control;
Added tcpdump;
Added linuxwias;
Added rdate;
Modified nocat/bin/gateway;
Modified nocat/lib/NoCat/Accounting/XML.pm;
Modified nocat/lib/NoCat/Gateway.pm;
Modified nocat/lib/NoCat/Gateway/Open.pm;
Modified nocat/lib/NoCat/Gateway/Captive.pm;
Modified nocat/lib/NoCat/Gateway/Passive.pm;
 
NOTES for 0.3-1
===================================================
I did find a logical error that caused the static IP configuration problem. I also slowed down the CD init script a little during the network configuration; If you use Open mode, you will now be promted to provide a url for the homepage redirect. You can also select <No Redirect> to disable this feature; The ZoneCD will run rdate during boot, and once a day to keep the time syncronized. The time on the ZoneCD is UTC. This is important for the Control Service to function properly; The Control Service is now available. The service is not 100% complete, but the client side(ZoneCD) is stable. Work still needs to be finished on the server side on the interfaces, and time zone management. Please begin using XML Accounting(configured in Zone Control) to help provide feedback on the server side development;
 
DOWNLOAD 0.3-1
===================================================
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=98792&package_id=112284&release_id=254151
 
Thanks for all the feedback! You guys are really making this a great project!!!
And remember - HAVE FUN!!
Scott

New design template for login pages

I have a new friend in Argentina named Alejandro.  Alejandro has taken it upon himself to donate his time to redesign the NoCat login pages.  They are not Palm friendly, but then again, is anything?  :-)  I think they are pretty friggin nice, and i would like to make them the default template for the login pages.  You will still be able to customize, and even not use this template and still do a custom html header and footer.  
 
Check it out: http://www.publicip.net/devl/login.html
 
Browse all the files: http://www.publicip.net/devl/

Let us know what you think.... 

Zone Control Service

The bulk of the programming is completed for the new accounting service that uses SOAP to manage end-user accounting and control.  I am using Tomcat on the server side (kinda funny - NoCat talkin to Tomcat) to host Axis web services.  I've been hammering the programs with some test scripts and they don't crash... I think we're ready for prime-time.
 
There is a new interface i am still developing for the Control Service.  You can use it when the next release comes out, but it will basically just provide accounting reports and some new user control. I will begin moving all the configuration programs from publicip.net to this new system once the next ZoneCD is out... Things such as Customize Your Zone, ZoneCD Configuration will be moved here... Other things, like stats and user management will be phased out and replaced.
 
The physical move of the Zone Control web pages to a separate server, is the beginning of a total system rewrite. The system has gone through many changes, and has gained allot of popularity.  The current system is full of tweaks, and hacks to implement your requests. The new system will be built to optimize the functionality that has been added over the last few months. There is also a need to create better account management. Meaning you create a parent Zone, and then can create child Zone's that optionally inherit the parent Zone's properties(logo, configuration). I am also considering rewriting the NoCat Authserver in JAVA/JSP.
 
Nuff said... back to work.

ZoneCD 0.3-1 Release

I have received some great feedback, and a couple bug reports about 3-0... I was hoping to get the next release out tomorrow(7/15), but that's not gonna happen. I still have some fine tuning to do on the CD, and the server side for this release.

Here's some changes goin into 3-1:

Fix static IP config bug;
Additional dialogs for Open mode homepage redirect;
Implement NoCat Control Service;
Add tcpdump;
Add linuxwias;

Thanks for all your suggestions and feedback!!

Oops, looks like you ran out of time....

I am finishing up the development of the Control Service for the ZoneCD. I'll tell ya what... Once again i am adding features that bring this project to a new level. The next release will have a "fully-functional" end_user reporting and control interface.

You will be able to run end_user reports for specific time periods, or predefined time periods. The report will show how long the user used, how much the user used, and of course when the user used. It will also display the MAC and IP addresses of the user. Reports will display in HTML but can be downloaded into Excel(*.xls) or Word(*.doc).

Enough said about reports, they're pretty boring. How about controlling session length and bandwidth use? Now you can!! You will be able to customize default session length and bandwidth usage for each class in your zone! For example, you can define that the Protected Class gets a 2 hour session and max 2MB transfer, while the Liberated Class gets a 3 hour session and 5MB transfer... You can also define unlimited for any class, specifically Trusted or Admin. You can also define the session length and bandwidth usage for each login. This will override the default Class settings. Settings will re-set at Midnight(this may need improvement for international use, but i had to start somewhere) to give the user a new beginning.

After a user consumes all their allotted resources, they will be redirected to a page that displays what happened... Here's an example for my test zone. Your control page would display the logo that you uploaded in Zone Control.... This page would be displayed when a user's time limit is exceeded.

Back to work......

ZoneCD accounting is locked-up...

I saw a few of you in the db that are trying out the new accounting service... Sorry, you'll all be locked out now. You should turn off XML accounting until the next release is out. It will be disabled til then...

NoCat Control Web Service

Here's number (2) web service http://xml.publicip.net:8080/axis/services/NoCatControl?wsdl. This service will allow me to program services that allow you to block a user by there login and mac address. Combined with the NoCat Accounting Web Service, it will also allow you to define the amount of bandwidth, and the amount of "WiFi" time a user has available each day.

This will be made available in the next release... hopefully by the end of next week.

ZoneCD Accounting Reports

If you are not satisfied with the simple hit counting reports currently available in Zone Control, have I got something for you... The first interface for the ZoneCD Accounting Service is "done". Well, I am still tweaking, but it's done enough for you to use. If anything gets changed, it will just be in the presentation layer.

Here's the catch: You must select XML from the available accounting methods in Zone Control, and it's not completely stable... yet. There is a flaw in XML::Accounting that will crash NoCat when the accounting service makes a request and the connection is refused by the application server. So if the ZoneCD tries to update the accounting data and Tomcat is down... el crash-o your NoCat-o. This will be fixed in 3-1, out by next week.

I will be adding more [Public IP] services to this interface. Soon you will be able to set session length and bandwidth limits for each user. I'll through in a few more goodies as well... Feedback is always appreciated!

Check it out: http://xml.publicip.net/ ( use your Zone Control login. Login not required if you use the "Preview" link on HotSpot Statistics in Zone Control) You will not have any data available until you set your accounting method to XML. From that point your accounting data will begin archiving here.

New Application Server

I just setup a new application server to host the web services for XML accounting. This server will perform much better with 256K RAM for Tomcat to use, Tomcat is also just about the only thing running on the box... If anybody is counting, that's 4 servers i am running. One for the Authserver - publicip.net - and this blog, one for community hosting and archives, one for freshspot and development, and the new one for web services. It's setting me back about $200 a month. Please help out with donations if you can...

ZoneCD Version 0.3-0(Duality) is Released!

ZoneCD_0.3-0 is really more than a new version, it's a totally NEW ZoneCD. There is now an old and a new... You'll see what I mean when you get it...

If you currently use a floppy to save your configuration, remove all the files from the floppy except [if used] init.sh and the htdocs directory. The first time you boot the ZoneCD it will ask you a few things and then save your configuration to floppy.

CHANGES for 0.3-0
===================================================
Added Boot configuration/save script
Added a new user class(Liberated)
Redefined user classes(Public=Protected|Liberated)
Added End-user accounting
Added firewall open port configuration 
Added PHP
Added SOAP::Lite and required libs
Added openssl from source
Secured communication between ZoneCD and Authserver
Added 'reload' switch to nocat init script
Depreciating ZoneID(login required for 'Closed' mode)
Drop all connections to wired LAN network(optional)
Cleaned up Logmailer log rollover
===================================================

You should also login and check out the changes in Zone Control. There is a new page called "ZoneCD Configuration", and the User Classes have been changed... Please use the forum if you have any questions or problems.

HAVE FUN!! http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=98792&package_id=112284&release_id=250089

Sourceforge Upload for 0.3-0

I am goin nuts trying to get the new release up... Sourceforge seems to be running very slooooowwww..... At least from here it is... I have access to a T1 for uploads and it took an hour and a half to upload the file. Now i need to download it to test the md5sum and it's transfering at 5.21K/s ETA 15:07:38!!!

Hopefully this will be resolved soon and i can get on with it...