Captive Portal: Guest Access on Wireless Networks
Posted by Beth Jackson on Thu, Apr 07, 2011 @ 11:26 AM
What is a Captive Portal?
A captive portal is a Web page that the user of a public-access network is obligated to view and interact with before access is granted. Another way of describing a captive portal, is that a captive portal turns a Web browser into an authentication device. Schools, hospitals, and many different types of business enterprises use captive portal as a means for authenticating individual users on a wireless network.
When a user connects to a wireless network and then opens their web browser, a specific page will appear asking the user for specific login information. When this is originally set up, usually there is an option to allow almost any user to instantly register with their own personal information (such as name, phone number, and email) or they must enter a specific login name and password combination that the organization or campus would personally assign to them. In some cases, the system can also be set up to require payment for access. Using a captive portal can also help your organization to harvest emails for other purposes, such as marketing email campaigns, if you require the user to register with their email upon their first sign-in.
Who uses a Captive Portal?
A Captive Portal is best used for managing any wireless (wi-fi) hotspot and to control the internet access on campus grounds, school wireless networks, hospital wireless networks or even for large enterprises.
How does a Captive Portal work?
A Captive Portal consists in a gateway that is the default router for the subnet to protect. Such gateway blocks IP packets destined towards the outside and captures the http and https requests on TCP ports 80 and 443 redirecting them to a web server (called Authentication Server) that show to the user an authentication page. If the user insert the right credentials, the Authentication Server communicates to the gateway that the host of the user is authorized and the gateway forwards the packets outside of the protect network.
How can I get a Captive Portal?
Contact us for a free consultation on your wireless project, including the set up for your Captive Portal. SecurEdge Networks designs, manages, and installs wireless networks for all types of campuses, including schools, hospitals and large enterprises.