Setting up WiFi for a Hotel?

[Vicenarian]

WARNING: THIS IS ALL THEORETICAL RIGHT NOW

Just curious on what options exist for this. Let's say the hotel just needs wifi to cover the main lobby area. I'm guessing a good quality SOHO wireless N router would be ok.

Now, as far as letting the guests have access, I've heard that some WAPs have a sort of 'guest' mode which, when guests try to log onto the network, they are presented with a login page. I've never used anything like this before, so, any suggestions?

Regarding network division/security, if the hotel had two separate internet lines, then it wouldn't be a big deal. However, if they only had one internet line, it would probably be wise to use a VLAN or something to separate the public and corporate networks, right? PS: Any suggestions on a switch that would work for this? (Preferably, one that doesn't require a CCNA degree to set up )

Thanks in advance for your input guys.

 

[TmouR]

Try Ubiquiti's UniFi. I have already installed many hotels this way.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yes you want the wireless network separate from the business network of the office.

I'd want a centrally managed wireless...the APs are managed by a controller...hardware (like HP MSM), or software (like Ubiquiti).

"Client Isolation" is the feature many biz grade wireless products have so that each individual wireless client is basically in their own VLAN, cannot touch other wireless clients.

 

[jeepjkdan]

I would

Dir-645
virtualized untangle

$100.00 solution.

 

[markcuk11]

free or paid?

if you are looking for pay as you go type thing look at http://www.hotspotsystem.com/ or even www.tomizone.co.nz from New Zealand (I have a router set up in tenerife using tomizone for my mums other half)

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I would

Dir-645
virtualized untangle

$100.00 solution.

Hardware to run Untangle on though? I actually don't like virtualizing a firewall...I prefer its NICs to be physically unique to it..both red 'n green NIC. Also...for places with heavier loads, Untangle really performs much better installed directly on bare metal, it doesn't like virtual NICs under load. When running VoIP 'n other latency sensitive stuff on the network..this really begins to show.

 

[dbdawn]

Ubiquiti or Aruba Networks would provide something like you are looking for.

 

[NETWizz]

Absolutely... Do Aruba. They are AWESOME and have support right out of California. When I used to work a job there, their support team was about 5 miles away from where I worked. The guys there said, "How about we just drive over and help ya?"

A++ for them.

Anyway, we bought about 300 of their Access Points, and they were all managed central and very easy to provision.

 

[jeepjkdan]

Hardware to run Untangle on though? I actually don't like virtualizing a firewall...I prefer its NICs to be physically unique to it..both red 'n green NIC. Also...for places with heavier loads, Untangle really performs much better installed directly on bare metal, it doesn't like virtual NICs under load. When running VoIP 'n other latency sensitive stuff on the network..this really begins to show.

I think you need to re-read what is trying to be accomplished in this post. The rougher will be used as the security point for the internal network. The untangle would be to block unwanted browsing eg porn or possibly YouTube. You can virtualized untangle for a minimal application like this on an i3 that only does basic tasks for the user.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I think you need to re-read what is trying to be accomplished in this post. The rougher will be used as the security point for the internal network. The untangle would be to block unwanted browsing eg porn or possibly YouTube. You can virtualized untangle for a minimal application like this on an i3 that only does basic tasks for the user.

You're sorta close to what the OP is talking about....but again, you mention "$100.00 solution" for that home grade router and virtualized Untangle. Do that DLink is about 80 bucks..leaving 20 bucks....20 bucks to get i3 based hardware to run Untangle virtualized on? No way! And why would you want to block youtube and porn at a hotel? This is not for employees, not a business, not a school, this is for guests...and guests want their fun.

 

[jeepjkdan]

You're sorta close to what the OP is talking about....but again, you mention "$100.00 solution" for that home grade router and virtualized Untangle. Do that DLink is about 80 bucks..leaving 20 bucks....20 bucks to get i3 based hardware to run Untangle virtualized on? No way! And why would you want to block youtube and porn at a hotel? This is not for employees, not a business, not a school, this is for guests...and guests want their fun.

I would virtualize untangle on exisiting hardware, and I'm sure the hotel would rather the fun be in rooms not the lobby. I would even put QOS so banking sites followed by sites like gmail and hotmail would get priority.

 

[jeepjkdan]

Yeah. No way you would want the problems of porn etc being looked up in the main lobby area.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I would virtualize untangle on exisiting hardware,

Only existing hardware I could think of is....the business/office network. Their server or something. Often at hotel chains already maintained by a franchise selected outsourced IT. Not a wise choice virtualizing an edge firewall along with a server(s)/private network. And the chance of a hotel having current i3 hardware...heh, good luck finding some much never than a P4 northwood hyperthread vintage.

 

[jeepjkdan]

Lol then I wouldn't bother looking at wifi in the lobby until I had upgraded some systems first. I'm in australia most places over here have better hardware I would guess....

 

[Tekko]

Lol then I wouldn't bother looking at wifi in the lobby until I had upgraded some systems first. I'm in australia most places over here have better hardware I would guess....

Or you could not be close minded and realize that other viable solutions have been mentioned in this thread already.