LESS Networks Hotspot Server v0.99 README

Copyright © 2004 Less Networks, LLC. All rights reserved.

The contents of this CD-ROM are Copyright © 2004 Less Networks and others. Refer to the End User License Agreement and individual copyright notices in each source package for distribution terms.

LESS Networks, LESSnetworks, LESSnetworks.com, Less Networks, and the "LESSnetworks.com < Free WiFi" and "Less Networks < Free WiFi" logos are trademarks of Less Networks, LLC in the United States and other countries.

NoCatAuth is software developed by the NoCat WirelessCommunity group as part of the Personal Telco Project.

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group.

Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

SSH and Secure Shell are trademarks of SSH Communications Security, Inc.

All other trademarks and copyrights referred to are the property of their respective owners.

WARNING

The installation process described here will COMPLETELY REFORMAT THE HARD DRIVE OF THE COMPUTER on which you install it, turning your computer into a hotspot server. You will lose all existing software and data. If you have a previous version of the LESS Networks software and want to upgrade to this version, the process is the same as a fresh installation and will wipe out all existing data and software.
 

INTRODUCTION

The LESS Networks Hotspot Server software is distributed as a single less_boot_v099.iso file (which you can download - see DOWNLOADING instructions below) or as a bootable CD-ROM. If you download the less_boot_v099.iso file, you will first have to create a bootable CD-ROM from it before you can install it (see CD BURNING instructions below).

This version of the LESS Networks Hotspot Server is based on RedHat 8.0 and NoCatAuth. If you want to use a different version of RedHat (e.g., 9.0), it can be done if you know what you are doing, but you are on your own.

During installation, the computer on which you wish to install the software will need to boot directly from the LESS Networks Hotspot Server CD. Most PCs today can do this. Sometimes, BIOS settings may have to be configured first to enable booting from CD. If your BIOS lets you choose booting from hard disk, floppy, or CD-ROM, choose CD-ROM. If you can't choose CD-ROM, you will have to create a Linux RH boot diskette with the image file from this software distribution.

If you obtained this software via a CD-ROM distribution, you can skip the following sections about DOWNLOADING and CD BURNING.
 

DOWNLOADING

To obtain LESS Networks Hotspot Server installation files over the internet, you can download the latest version from the LESS Networks web site: Download instructions are found at the URL above. Once you download the software, which is distributed as a single less_boot_v099.iso file, you must then burn this file onto a recordable/rewriteable CD-ROM as a bootable disk (an ISO 9660 boot disk).

You can download the software and create the bootable CD on any computer that is connected to the internet and can create an ISO 9660 format boot disk. This process has been tested on computers running Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. The CD-creating computer is usually distinct from the computer on which you will install the software. The installation process will completely reformat the hard drive of that computer and install a new OS and software.
 

CD BURNING

Depending upon the operating system you like to run on your computer, you will use different tools to burn your disk. We have used the following tools:
For instructions on how to burn the downloaded less_boot_v099.iso file onto a CD-ROM using some of the above programs, go to http://www.lessnetworks.com/static/v099/BurnISO9660CD.html
 

DIRECTORY ORGANIZATION

Once you have a CD-ROM, it contains the following directory structure (where /mnt/cdrom is the mount point of the CD-ROM):
/mnt/cdrom
  |----> boot
  |        |----> boot.cat     -- the name says it all
  |        `----> boot.img     -- the El Torito boot image
  |----> HOWTO                 -- script for CD burning
  |----> ks.cfg                -- configuration file for Kickstart
  |----> RedHat
           |----> base         -- info on this version of RedHat used by the install process
           `----> RPMs         -- binary packages

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

The x86 computer that is to become the hotspot server must meet the following requirements:
If the BIOS requires that a keyboard be present to reboot, you will have to leave a keyboard permanently attached. A monitor and the CD-ROM drive are only required during installation. In general, if you have an x86 computer that is good enough for a minimal RH8 install, add a second NIC and you are ready.
 

INSTALLING A HOTSPOT SERVER

For detailed instructions on installing a LESS Networks Hotspot Server, go to http://www.lessnetworks.com/static/v099/LessINSTALL.html
 

ADMINISTERING A HOTSPOT SERVER

For detailed instructions on administering a LESS Networks Hotspot Server, go to http://www.lessnetworks.com/static/v099/LessADMIN.html
 

TROUBLESHOOTING

For troubleshooting the install, go to http://www.lessnetworks.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=FAQ&file=index&myfaq=yes&id_cat=18
 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Less Networks team is: We thank our technical friends and testers: