ogWifi brings Wireless to YOUR community

Who and what is ogWifi? ● Non-profit volunteer-based Community WIFI Group ● Help businesses and organizations share their internet connection with customers and general public ● Hotspot owners benefit from the volunteer's expertise in the domain of wireless internet ● Volunteers benefit from easier access to the internet in public places

Goals ● Bring free wireless internet to as many hotspots as possible ● Grow group of associated active volunteers ● Help people interested in WIFI with issues they are encountering ● Popularize the issues surrounding WIFI

Importance of free WIFI ● Pay for use WIFI is not popular and more often than not, only attractive to business users ● Brings people out of their home offices ● Transforms WIFI into promotion/visibility tool ● Encourage business travellers out of hotel rooms and into our community ● Promotes sharing and cooperation

You are ALL ogWifi volunteers ● Some volunteers are more active than others. ● Anyone can help our cause: – By promoting ogWifi in their neighbourhood – By letting others know about ogWifi – By asking their favourite pub, restaurant, or cafe about free WIFI It is up to you to bring the good news to YOUR neighbourhood.

ogWifi hotspots and ad-hoc access points ● ogWifi hotspots has different strengths and weaknesses compared to ad-hoc hotspots ● A hotspot provider must evaluate which is more suitable for the needs of the business or community ● Most businesses are more suited to an ogWifi hotspot ● Most community hotspots with a technical person are more suited to ad-hoc

Visibility Comparison ● Very Visibility (SSID broadcast, hotspot map, captive portal, on premise branding) ogWifi ● Less visible (SSID broadcast) ad hoc

Setup Comparison ● best practices used in deploying hotspots ogWifi ● variable quality ad hoc

Support Comparison ● hotspot owners gain access to a vibrant community of volunteers who are passionate about WIFI ogWifi ● self maintained and supported ad hoc

Cost Comparison ● Router costs ● Wiring costs ● $50/year administration fee ogWifi ● Router costs ● Wiring costs ad hoc

Security Comparison ● Segregation of wireless from local LAN ● Open wireless ● Only ogWifi subscribers may connect. ogWifi ● May or may not have segregated LANs ● May be Open or Encrypted ● If Open, nobody knows who is connecting ad hoc

Wireless Security ● Open wireless security presents a few problems such as ability to snoop other traffic but makes it very easy for users to connect as no prior knowledge is required to connect ● WEP wireless encryption is broken and not recommended for use ● WPA or WPA2 wireless encryption is quite secure when used with a long key but requires all users to know the key

ogWifi User Experience ● User finds a hotspot via on-line finder map ● On location, user becomes aware that a network is available when his/her laptop detects and reports a wireless network ● User selects ogWifi network ● The first page displayed by the user's browser is the ogWifi captive portal page ● The user enters a name and password ● User accesses internet at no charge

Hotspot Finder Map Each hotspot is advertised on a finder map, available on-line

Captive Portal Page ● The first time a wifi user attempts to access a web page off the internet, he/she is redirected to a special page, called “captive portal page” ● This page is customized for each hotspot and the design is controlled by the hotspot owner ● Hotspot owner has the chance to advertise or provide other information on this portal page.

Captive Portal Page (initial)

Captive Portal Page (after login)

Becoming a hotspot ● Requires an existing high speed Internet connection ● Sign ogWifi membership agreement ● Pay installation costs ● Pay yearly membership fees of $50

Setting up a hotspot Volunteers from ogWifi: – come to location and analyse feasibility – install ogWifi access point router – run cables from existing router to access point – perform configuration – set up captive portal page on behalf of hotspot – test installation Note: Volunteers are network experts and can help hotspot with related questions and issues.

Access Point Router ● Commercial router provides wifi Access Point ● OpenWRT, a Linux based router firmware solution. ● WifiDog, open source wifi authentication services

Hotspot Network Topography

ogWifi Network Architecture ● Multiple hotspots, each has an access point router ● One (or multiple) authentication server(s) ● Router monitors connections and redirects to appropriate captive portal page ● Authentication server verifies user's credentials ● Router allows unimpeded access to the net

Simplified Diagram

Authentication Server ● Co-location offered by Cooperix.net ● Linux 2.6, Debian ● Authentication Service: WifiDog ● Web services: Apache HTTPD / PHP 5 ● Database: PostgreSQL 7.4

Simple Technology View

OpenWRT ● Firmware replacement for various wireless routers ● ● “White Russian” variant based on Linux 2.4 ● Provides: – Linux command line – all services of wireless routers: DHCP, Filtering, etc. – a simple web GUI

WifiDog ● Software initiated by Ile Sans Fil, Montréal ● PHP-based authentication server ● Includes a captive portal for Linux-based routers ● Open source : ● Provides login page, hotspot map, administrative tools

Other ogWifi Initiatives ● Pilot projects with Community Centres ● Growing ogWifi brand ● AllianceCSF ● Targeting parks and other public spaces ● Special events (Mother's Day at Parkdale Park) ● Antenna Group

How to get involved ● Promote ogWifi in your community ● Participate to monthly meetings – informal presentation – general discussions about WIFI ● Register to mailing list: ● Share your talents with ogWifi

Thanks ● Ile Sans Fil, Montreal ( ● Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic ( ● Cooperix ( ● Russell McOrmond ( ● Hotspots and Volunteers

Find ogWifi online Web: Information: Mailing List: