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IAS/RADIUS Implementation in a Coffee Shop?

Posted by Cliff on from the non-free-loitering dept.

noyler asks: "I've been asked to decide on the best way for metering a 'free' wireless network at a local coffee shop. Here's the scenario: currently, local college students come to the coffee shop, grab a cup of coffee, and then spread out like it's a study hall for 6 to 10 hours at a time and use the free internet. The coffee shop loves this, but it's getting really crowded for the other customers that just come in for some coffee and have nowhere to sit. The management wants to implement a system that, upon buying a drink, grants a time-limited connection for that customer of 3 or 4 hours. If the customer wants more access, another drink will need to be purchased. The store network is a simple cable modem with wireless access point attached right now. After implementation, customers should be prompted for a username/password (which can come from his or her receipt) and then have access to the 'net. One limitation is that the customers should not have to install any third-party software to use it--no window for software corruption liability that way. The customer base is mostly Windows with an ever-growing number of Mac users as well. What are some good ideas for doing this? I've considered RADIUS, or some kind of portal software, but don't see any clear answers. Any suggestions for software to use?? The coffee shop is very low budget, so cheap hardware and free software would be best!"

3 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. Caffeine-powered Internet access by mopslik · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hook up each computer to a bicycle-powered generator. After 3 or 4 hours, they'll need to buy another coffee just to keep them awake.

    Easy peasy.

  2. Here's one... by mogrify · · Score: 4, Funny

    Replace all your electrical outlets with blank faceplates. Once the battery's out, the user's got to go somewhere else. Should be about 3-4 hours or so....

    --
    perl -e 'foreach(values %SIG){$_="IGNORE";}while(){}'
  3. Re:A contraction and two words: Don't do it! by itwerx · · Score: 2, Funny

    Those would all be good and valid points if they actually related to the problem posted.
    From the article: it's getting really crowded for the other customers that just come in for some coffee and have nowhere to sit
    I'm sure the shop would love to do things exactly the way you describe if they only had room to!

    (Nice post though, even if was completely off-topic - you should be in sales! :)