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    Captive Portal between APs

    Captive Portal
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    • G
      gbreadman
      last edited by

      Hi all. I managed to setup a working captive portal. I do have one problem tho.

      When I login through Access Point 1, as long as the account is logged in, even if I get disconnected from the AP, I can reestablish my connection if I can reconnect to the AP.
      My problem is when I switch to a different access point using the same device, I need to login again.

      How do I configure this so my MAC's session is remembered between APs?
      I think it has something to do with the pass-through option but I don't really know how it works nor found any helpful info bout it.

      What I want to happen is: Connect to AP1 > login to CP > gain access > connect to AP2 > still have access w/o login

      But I don't want to store the allowed MACs permanently, so basically, just session passing between APs. Thanks.

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      • DerelictD
        Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
        last edited by

        Sounds like your "APs" are really layer 3 NAT routers, meaning the IP/MAC combination that is punching through the captive portal is the "AP"'s WAN interface, not the wireless device itself.

        Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
        A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
        DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
        Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

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        • G
          gbreadman
          last edited by

          Ah well I AM using (connecting between) a TP-Link ROUTER and a Unifi AP…

          So if my setup would rather be:

          server->switch1->AP1
          server->switch1->Router1->AP2

          and I switch between AP1>AP2, there would be no re-authentication?

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          • DerelictD
            Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
            last edited by

            Generally, when a user logs into captive portal the IP/MAC pair is passed. If that IP/MAC pair is a router's WAN port, then when the user moves to a new router the IP/MAC pair that captive portal sees changes.

            Wireless Access points should be bridges, not routers. That means the captive portal sees the actual IP/MAC of the device, not the router they are behind.

            Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
            A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
            DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
            Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • G
              gbreadman
              last edited by

              So after our supervisor borrowed the router I'm using as a WAP, I remembered I still have another REAL (lol) AP.
              I set it up and tried changing between the APs. Now I don't need to re-login.

              "Much ask. Such noob. Wow."

              lol TYVM. :)

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