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Tips on Setting Up and Hosting a Wi-Fi Hotspot

Article is provided courtesy of Cisco Press.
Date: Oct 21, 2009.

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Secure Your Private Network
Protect Your Hotspot Users
To Cover Large or Busy Areas, Consider Creating a Wi-Fi Mesh Network
Place the Hotspot Gateway in a Central Spot
Use an Identifying Network Name (SSID)
Discover the Hotspot-Specific Firmware Replacement: CoovaAP
Possibly Use a General Firmware Replacement
Look into Using the Sputnik Service
Look into 802.1X Authentication and WPA/WPA2 Enterprise Encryption
Consider ZoneCD if You Have an Old PC Lying Around

Article Description

Eric Geier, author of Wi-Fi Hotspots: Setting Up Public Wireless Internet Access, shares tips on installing and operating a Wi-Fi hotspot. He touches on the security of your private and public network and other deployment topics. Plus he discusses a few different hotspot solutions (most are free!).

Like this article? We recommend

Wi-Fi Hotspots: Setting Up Public Wireless Internet Access

$45.00

Look into 802.1X Authentication and WPA/WPA2 Enterprise Encryption

If you are a security freak or if you have users who are, you might want to check into using the enterprise mode of WPA/WPA2 encryption.

Unlike the pre-shared key mode of WPA/WPA2, users don't know the actual encryption key. They'd log onto the network with a username and password, as required by the 802.1X/PEAP authentication.

If interested, check out the free CoovaAAA service.

10. Consider ZoneCD if You Have an Old PC Lying Around | Next Section Previous Section

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