Redirect to Web Site after connecting to Wireless?

[cdacasinoit]

We recently had a user go to a congerence at another location, and when they connected to the Wireless there, they were automatically redirected to the locations Website.

I have been looking through the WLC Config guide (7.0), and the only thing I am seeig is Web Authentication.

Is there any way to redirect users to a web site when they connect to the wireless system?

[Scott Fella]

Yes... You can set that up on the WebAuth page where you set the splash page as default or custom. You can also enter the redirect on the HTML code.

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[Rob Huffman]

Hi there,

Just to add a note to the great tips from Scott (+5 "S")

I stumbled upon this awesome doc from Nicholas @ Cisco recently;

https://supportforums.cisco.com/docs/DOC-13954#Webauth_inner_workings

Cheers!

Rob

[cdacasinoit]

Thanks Scott and Rob. However, I must be blind, since I am not seeing what you are refering to. I tried to setup a test WLAN following the document you linked Rob, but, we do not have a DMZ controller.

The WLAN is already up and running (we installed around April of this year). Since the WLAN is meant to be accessed by guests, it is just using a PSK (a pretty simple one though).

It is not setup as a Guest WLAN currently, does it really need to be?

Basically I am just looking at when a guest connects (using the PSK), it shows our web site first, but otherwise lets them through.

[Scott Fella]

Well, when we talk about guest access using wireless, we usually refer to having an open authentication method and using either authentication or passthrough via a splash page.  his is normally found in thw WLAN tab under Security and Layer 3.  Select Web Policy then you would choose one of the options.  Usually authentication if you want users to login using a username and password that is created as a local user on the WLC.  Or you would setup passthrough if you want to just have users hit the accept on the splash page. 

If you use the webauth, then also go to the Security tab int he WLC and select Web Auth and then Web Login Page on the left side of the screen.  This is where you can choose a default or a custom webauth page.  That is the place where you can enter a redirect to your website.

Create one and test it out.  It's better than using psk and having to manage guest users.

Hope this helps.

[cdacasinoit]

OK, thanks, that does work. However, I was under the impression that it would pop the web auth page when attempting to connect to the WLAN. THe auth page only shows up when attempting to access the web, then it redirects to the auth page, then after authenticating, it redirects to the URL we have specified.

[Scott Fella]

That is how it works on most devices.  iPhones and iPads, will open that webauth page when you try to connect automatically as long as they stay on that join network page.  Or else, they too will have to open a safari page.

This is how it works at free hotsposts like at the airport or Starbucks, etc.  Unless your device is smart enough to detect that a login is required, likt the iPhone and iPad.

[cdacasinoit]

Great, thanks. I guess we will have to see if we want to use it that way.

[Scott Fella]

It's better... You don't have to show people how to setup their wireless. Also you can use a default username and password for everyone if you want and then you can change the password once a week once a month or whatever you like. Or you can create a logging for each user if you want.

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[cdacasinoit]

The only problem I see with the way it works is that it does not do the redirection each time the same computer connects. Once the computer connects, it remembers the information, and just connects silently if it is disconnected for any reason.

[Scott Fella]

Yes, unless they shut off their machine or disconnects from the wireless. In the advanced tab of your WLAN SSID, there is a session timeout, which forces users to log back on. Usually you want to set that at 4 hours or 8 hours. I usually set it at 8 hours so guest users don't complain. As long as the connect and enter the info, I don't see any reason they should have to see the splash page again.

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