PublicIP Tips and Tricks
The PublicIP system has all sorts of capabilities which can be controlled through the Control Server remotely if you are running in Closed Mode on either the Free Control System (http://www.publicip.net) or the Premium System (http://www.publicip.com).
These capabilities either are very limited or non-existent when the PublicIP Gateway is operated in the Open Mode.
I have placed instructions on how to implement most of the functionality of the closed systems, in terms of some of the control capabilities, here for you to use:
Accessing the Wireless Router/AP through the zonecd machine
Accessing the wireless router or access point remotely can be a hassle to say the least – if you do not have direct access to the zonecd GUI interface which allows you to use a web browser you have very limited options to access the devices on the wireless side of the system.
Why whould you need to access a device on the wireless side remotely – you might need to check on the configuration of a device connected to the wirelesss side and if the device has a web interface you can access it through the zonecd machine relatively easily but there is a caveat (requirment)…
Blocking local LAN access in Open Mode
Normally – Open mode is just what it’s name implies! Open to access
once the Splash page has been agreed to and the OK button is clicked – it
configures the firewall to allow the IP/Mac address combination to pass
through the firewall – hince the “control” of access…. but it does NOT perform any configuration of the firewall to “block” access to the local LAN the zonecd machine is connected to.
Changing email log file delivery
You may find your ISP does not allow email to originate from the ZoneCD so you would need to change the email SMTP server or the ISP may not allow SMTP email to originate from “outside” the domain you are on so you would need to make the changes to allow the email to go out through the ISP SMTP system (email system).
A second issue you may encounter is the ISP requires authentication in order to allow sending email through the ISP’s email system. You can configure the email system on the zonecd machine to handle the authentication.
Configuring DNSMASQ for Internel Use and Internet Use
DNSMASQ or DNS Masquarading is a DNS proxy server used by the PublicIP system for the purpose of giving a wireless client DNS capabilities. Part of the reason the PublicIP system uses a DNS proxy server is so the wireless client does not need to configure a DNS server setting manually but instead the DHCP server giving the wireless client their IP address can also give them a specific DNS IP address setting as well.
How to configure DHCP for special cases…
The PublicIP system is a great system “out of the box” but there are times when you might need to perform some specialized changes that are not available in the normal system. You may need to allow unauthenticated access for several machines but want to have them configured using DHCP instead of setting them up in a STATIC IP configuration…
Open Mode Squid requirments
To use Open Mode filtering you need to configure squid to work properly since it normally is configured only in Closed Mode operation… the default configuration does not work properly!
PublicIP extension capabilities Overview
The PublicIP WiFi Portal Control System is comprised of either one or two components, depending on what mode you are running the PublicIP system.
There are three distinct modes you can select for the PublicIP system:
1. Open Mode
2. Free Closed Mode
3. Premium Closed Mode
Of the three distinct modes only the Premium Closed Mode requires a subscription for the zone but offers the greatest control, flexibility and reporting system and is recommended for serious commercial work. In any of the above listed modes you can apply tweeks to the system to give it more capabilities than is built into the system…
Remote logging of the system log files
One of the nice features of the linux operating system (and most all unix based systems in general) is they have a system logging facility which allows not only logging system information locally but also remotely with very few changes!
Secure Shell (ssh) and the PublicIP system
Why use ssh instead of telnet.
Aren’t they both the same thing?
Well – Yes and No!!!
SSH is a “form” of telnet BUT with a very big difference! SSH stands for “Secure Shell” which uses a strong form of encryption between the ssh client (runs on your computer) and the ssh server (which runs on the zonecd machine).
Unauthenticated Access for specific devices
There will come a time when you need to setup the PublicIP system to allow what is called “Unauthenticated Access” for a specific device. The ability to allow a device on the wireless side of the PublicIP system makes sense when you look at what types of wireless devices exist!