ChilliSpot is an open source captive portal

Captive portal

The captive portal technique forces an HTTP client on a network to see a special web page before using the Internet normally. A captive portal turns a Web browser into an authentication device. This is done by intercepting all packets, regardless of address or port, until the user opens a browser...

 or wireless LAN access point controller. It is used for authenticating users of a wireless LAN. It supports web based login, which is today's standard for public HotSpot

Hotspot (Wi-Fi)

A hotspot is a site that offers Internet access over a wireless local area network through the use of a router connected to a link to an Internet service provider...

s, WISP "smart-client" authentication, and it supports Wi-Fi Protected Access

Wi-Fi Protected Access

Wi-Fi Protected Access and Wi-Fi Protected Access II are two security protocols and security certification programs developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to secure wireless computer networks...

 (WPA and WPA2). Authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA protocol

AAA protocol

In computer security, AAA commonly stands for authentication, authorization and accounting.- Authentication :Authentication refers to the process where an entity's identity is authenticated, typically by providing evidence that it holds a specific digital identity such as an identifier and the...

) is handled via RADIUS

RADIUS

Remote Authentication Dial In User Service is a networking protocol that provides centralized Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting management for computers to connect and use a network service...

 (on board or remote).

Development on the original project continues, but slowly for some. The Coova-Chilli is an active project and has since added many new features and is an integral part of the CoovaAP firmware.

As of mid-2008, ChilliSpot appears to be very dead. The developer Jens Jacobsen has vanished, and the chillispot.org domain has lapsed.

Uses in firmware

CoovaAP

An OpenWrt

OpenWrt

OpenWrt is a Linux distribution primarily targeted at routing on embedded devices. It comprises a set of about 2000 software packages, installed and uninstalled via the opkg package management system. OpenWrt can be configured using the command-line interface of BusyBox ash, or the web interface...

 based firmware with many hotspot specific features.

DD-WRT

DD-WRT

DD-WRT is a Linux-based firmware for several wireless routers, most notably the Linksys WRT54G . Like other similar projects, DD-WRT is third-party firmware designed to replace the firmware that ships pre-installed on many commercial routers...

ChilliSpot is included in the latest builds of the open source DD-WRT firmware package.

OpenWrt

OpenWrt

OpenWrt is a Linux distribution primarily targeted at routing on embedded devices. It comprises a set of about 2000 software packages, installed and uninstalled via the opkg package management system. OpenWrt can be configured using the command-line interface of BusyBox ash, or the web interface...

ChilliSpot is included in the software package repository of OpenWrt

OpenWrt

OpenWrt is a Linux distribution primarily targeted at routing on embedded devices. It comprises a set of about 2000 software packages, installed and uninstalled via the opkg package management system. OpenWrt can be configured using the command-line interface of BusyBox ash, or the web interface...

Uses in software

FON

FON

Fon is a company that operates a system of dual access wireless networks. Fon is the largest Wi-Fi network in the world, with over 4 million hotspots....

ChilliSpot is used in FON

FON

Fon is a company that operates a system of dual access wireless networks. Fon is the largest Wi-Fi network in the world, with over 4 million hotspots....

's FONSPOT software that turns a regular Mac/Linux/PC machine into a FON spot.

External links

• Unofficial ChilliSpot homepage (copy of original with ads inserted)
• CoovaChilli homepage
• PepperSpot - fork of ChilliSpot with IPv6 support