Can I trigger a client to automatically launch a web browser when connect wifi

camazalraman

Hi all
As title says, Can I trigger a client to automatically launch a web browser with captive portal login page when connect wifi.

usually:
user connects wifi -> once connected -> user manual opens browser, type any url -> redirect to captive portal login

i need to setting:
user connects wifi -> once connected -> client device automatically launch a web browser with captive portal login page.

I saw in some article, client can check if they're behind a captive portal or not.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn408681.aspx

http://serverfault.com/questions/679393/captive-portal-popups-the-definitive-guide?answertab=votes#tab-top

http://www.it1me.com/it-answers?id=4454655&s=Dock%20connector&ttl=Can+I+trigger+a+mobile+client+to+automatically+launch+a+web+browser+when+connecting+to+wifi%3F

Anyone could suggest me how to configure pfsense to do that.

Cheers!

muswellhillbilly

@camazalraman:

Hi all
As title says, Can I trigger a client to automatically launch a web browser with captive portal login page when connect wifi.

In a word - No.

No captive portal can issue a remote command to a browser to open itself automatically when a wifi connection is made. Your browser's behaviour is triggered only by the browser settings. For the CP page to open, you must open a browser and try browsing first to a remote site.

This question has come up at least a couple of times before on this forum. The answer, as always, is the same as before.

Gertjan

@camazalraman:

Hi all
As title says, Can I trigger a client to automatically launch a web browser with captive portal login page when connect wifi.

usually:
user connects wifi -> once connected -> user manual opens browser, type any url -> redirect to captive portal login

i need to setting:
user connects wifi -> once connected -> client device automatically launch a web browser with captive portal login page.

Luckily, pfsense can not influence a 'clients' device behavior.
But …..
Windows 7 (and up) : when you connect to a wifi connection and the device (PC) detects that it has (still) NO connection to the Internet, it will bring up a popup that bring up .... a browser.
iStuff (iPads, Phones, whatever) do the same thing.
Other "smart devices" : probably they do the same thing.

So, no need to resolve what has already been resolved ;)

Derelict

All you can do is ensure that the clients have solid access to DNS services for all internet addresses prior to authenticating through the portal. What happens after that is 100% up to the client devices - and they all do it differently.

It would be great to have a standard, like maybe a DHCP option to point devices at a captive portal URL so we could eliminate all this MITM garbage, but we don't have that.

A unified standard covering captive portals and proxy settings would be sweet.

Gertjan

@Derelict:

…..
A unified standard covering captive portals and proxy settings would be sweet.

Right. A RFC'portal access' would be good to have.

Snailkhan

thouhg this is already answered but i would like to add something..
i have configured cp with freeradius and initially i too would have to open the browser and go to some locall ip (non https) and i would get prompt to enter creds for authentication.

later when in the dhcp options i removed all dns server settings my android when connected to cp would automatically show a popup saying additional information is required and taping it opens the cp authentication page..

Derelict

Yes. Good access to global DNS prior to punching through the portal is a requirement for CP to function.

Well, DNS queries have to return some IP address for the client to try to connect to.