FreeRADIUS Builds

Have been helping people out with their FreeRADIUS deployments (usually for hotspots). As a result, I’ve started a little collection of Freeradius packages that I’ve built for Ubuntu. FreeRadius is available from the repositories but what you get sometimes is not the latest and greatest. I’m putting my builds up for download so that someone else doesn’t have to go through the stress of compiling. 

These were compiled using version 2.1.6 of Freeradius.

Hardy amd64

I’m getting really sleepy so I’ll add some more builds tomorrow. Coming soon, instructions on how to build your own packages.

Update: i386 builds for Hardy are also up. i386 builds for Karmic
will follow shortly.

Does your RADIUS server think "user" = "USER"?

If you happen to manage a hotspot that uses Freeradius with the sql module for authentication, you might want to pay attention. The default queries used by Freeradius sql module are case-insensitive. So if user “kwame” is successfully authenticated, another user “Kwame” can also successfully autheticate. And so can (more…)

Lighttd: Put your webserver on a diet

When you’re working with limited system resources, every bit that can be freed up counts. And if you have do your web development on machine with only 384mb of RAM, you start to be become a bit, um, mercenary about your resources. Running an Apache+PHP+MySQL stack alongside a GNOME desktop (xfce or fluxbox would be better but we all like our little luxuries) , Firefox and a text editor is not my idea of an efficient workspace. When you take the fact that I’ll be working on a wordpress install with about 19k entries, you start getting a sour taste in your mouth. (more…)

One cable to rule them all: POE for your WRT54G

Last updates: 21-Jun-2009

Warning: This hack will not just void your warranty. It will drop-kick it to the floor, stomp it in the gonads five or six times, shoot it in the head, douse the body in petrol and set it ablaze THEN spit on the remains for good measure. And that doesn’t take into consideration what it could do to you or your equipment . You have been warned. Don’t try this unless you’re comfortable with multimeters and soldering irons.
Now, on to the good stuff. Suppose you have a Linksys WRT54G router & antenna that you want to mount somewhere, say on your roof. So, one fine Saturday morining, you grab a few tools and get to work. About 35 minutes into your little project, it hits you: How exactly do you get power for your router? The roof has no power outlets and you need to keep the antenna cable as short as possible to minimize signal losses. (more…)

Web Interface for OpenWrt Kamikaze

Warning: This can brick your router. Goes without saying, I will not take responsibility for whatever havoc you wreak. You have been warned. If you use your router for internet access, tt’s best to have an alternative method of getting online. You have been warned!

I have a Meraki mini I’ve been playing around with. I’m running OpenWRT Kamikaze 7.06 on it and I love it. It’s very flexible piece of hardware and comes with an 8mb flash and 32mb of RAM, which is more than enough for the stuff I run on it. The only annoying thing is the lack of a web interface. (more…)

Cantenna Chronicles – Part 1

One of the problems I have with living off campus is that of internet access.. There is a wireless hotspot I can connect to but who want’s to pay for slow internet access when you can get slightly faster internet access for free. The only hitch: I live so far from campus, my received signal levels are just depressing.
Location Map. Yeah, quite a distance
That leaves me with three options:
(more…)

Unbricking Linksys WRT54G v5

Before I begin: This WILL void your warranty (if you haven’t done that already) and might result in damage to your router or cause you to sustain injury. You have been warned. I will not take any responsibility for any mishaps that may occur as a result of this post.

My Linksys WRT54G version 5 suddenly stopped working over the weekend. On powering the router, all lights powered on and stayed that way. I had previously been running DD-WRT Micro.I tried holding the reset button for 30 seconds, powering the router, holding for another 30 seconds and then usnig TFTP tool to flash the router but that did not work. My situation was desperate and I was ready for desperate measures. (more…)