My intention was actually to set up a Raspberry Pi print server for my home. After buying the Raspberry Pi, I realised that my printer does not support the ARM architecture. However I am discovering other interesting ways to use the Pi and using it as a WiFi hotspot is one option.
While trying to set up the hotspot, I made reference to may wonderful posts found on the Internet. However I found that the posts do not cover everything and there are assumptions that they made which does not apply to me. Or they have missed posting some information/knowledge that I found was crucial in setting up the hotspot. In posting my experience, I hope to fill in some gaps and help others just as I have been helped.
I set up my Pi hotspot using Raspbian and I am going to assume that you have got this set up on your SD card.
In my setup, I have the wired Ethernet cable connect to the router provided by my ISP. I use the Edimax EW-7318USG dongle. It is a couple of years old but it is supported by Linux out of the box.
Note that all commands are run from a terminal window. I also assume you know how to use the nano editor. You also need to know a bit about how networks are defined by IPs (Get this knowledge from the Internet if you have problems in this area).
Step 1
After you start up the Pi, update your system:-
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
Type:-
ifconfig -a
and ensure that you see the eth0 and wlan0 listed. Make a note of the IP address of eth0. For example, mine says 192.168.1.77 and this IP is assigned by the DHCP server of my router.
You need to know this as your wlan0 needs to be set up on a different network - for example 192.168.0.0. (Please look at the numbers carefully and compare with those assigned to eth0).
If you cannot see wlan0, your wifi adapter may not be detected or supported. Search the Internet for solutions.
Step 2
Install iw:-
sudo apt-get install iw
After the installation, run:-
iw list
You should see some thing like this:-
Supported RX frame types:
* IBSS: 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* managed: 0x40 0xd0
* AP: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* mesh point: 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* P2P-client: 0x40 0xd0
* P2P-GO: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
Note that you have "AP" and "AP/VLAN" which indicate that your wlan0 can support hotspot configuration. If not, you may need to buy another adapter.
Step 3
Get the necessary software:-
sudo apt-get install hostapd isc-dhcp-server iptables
Step 4
Configure your network interfaces (if you are worried, make a backup of all the files before changing them):-
sudo nano /etc/network/interaces
When the editor opens, change the entries to look something like this:-
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
iface eth0 inet dhcp
allow-hotplug wlan0
iface wlan0 inet static
address 192.168.0.1
netmask 255.255.255.0
##iface wlan0 inet manual
##wpa-roam /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
##iface default inet dhcp
up iptables-restore < /etc/iptables.ipv4.nat
You can see that I have assigned the IP address 192.168.0.1 to my wlan0. Remember, the wlan0 must be on a different network from eth0.
Step 5
Now you configure the DHCP server, isc-dhcp-server.
sudo nano /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf
Search through the file to find the location which says something like:-
default-lease-time 600;
max-lease-time 7200;
# If this DHCP server is the official DHCP server for the local
# network, the authoritative directive should be uncommented.
#authoritative;
authoritative;
Remove the hex sign "#" so that the line containing "authoritative" looks like this:-
default-lease-time 600;
max-lease-time 7200;
# If this DHCP server is the official DHCP server for the local
# network, the authoritative directive should be uncommented.
authoritative;
Type the following into the empty file:-
interface=wlan0
driver=nl80211
#driver=rtl871xdrv
ssid=YourRaspberryPiRouter
hw_mode=g
channel=6
macaddr_acl=0
auth_algs=1
ignore_broadcast_ssid=0
wpa=2
wpa_passphrase=YourPiRouterPhrase
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
wpa_pairwise=TKIP
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
Replace "YourRaspberryPiRouter" and "YourPiRouterPhrase" with something suitable for your case.
Note that the nl80211 driver works for me. Your wifi adapter may use another driver. But I recommend you try nl80211 first as the hostapd software that comes with Raspbian works with this. If you use another driver, you may need to tweak hostapd and I do not know how to do that.
Do not put in extra space at the end of the file. hostapd can be picky.
Once you are done, save the file.
Now we will tell hostapd where to find this configuration file:-
sudo nano /etc/default/hostapd
Find the line #DAEMON_CONF="" and edit it so it says DAEMON_CONF="/etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf"
Remember to remove the # in front of "DAEMON".
Then save the file
Step 7
You will now configure the iptables to ensure that eth0 communicates with wlan0:-
sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf
Go to the bottom and add the following line to start IP forwarding on boot:-
net.ipv4.ip_forward=1
Save the file.
Also run
sudo sh -c "echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward"
Run the following (3 lines) to create the rules for iptables:-
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o eth0 -j MASQUERADE
sudo iptables -A FORWARD -i eth0 -o wlan0 -m state --state ELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A FORWARD -i wlan0 -o eth0 -j ACCEPT
Save the rules by typing:-
sudo sh -c "iptables-save > /etc/iptables.ipv4.nat"
Step 8
To ensure that hostapd and isc-dhcp-server start up on boot, type the following:-
sudo update-rc.d hostapd enable
sudo update-rc.d isc-dhcp-server enable
The setup is completed. Restart Pi:-
sudo shutdown -r now
After Pi boots up, use another device (tablet, HP, computer) to scan for the hotspot. It should show up and allow you to connect to it.
If you encounter errors, try the following:-
Run hostapd and see what error messages are displayed and correct them.
sudo /usr/sbin/hostapd /etc/hostapt/hostapd.conf
Restart isc-dhcp-server to see if it display any errors and correct them.
sudo /etc/init.d/isc-dhcp-server restart
The iptables rules can be viewed by typing:-
iptables -L
Mine shows:-
Chain INPUT (policy ACCEPT)
target prot opt source destination
Chain FORWARD (policy ACCEPT)
target prot opt source destination
ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere state RELATED,ESTABLISHED
ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere
Chain OUTPUT (policy ACCEPT)
target prot opt source destination
I hope the above helps. I am not an expert but just want to share my experience. Good luck.
While trying to set up the hotspot, I made reference to may wonderful posts found on the Internet. However I found that the posts do not cover everything and there are assumptions that they made which does not apply to me. Or they have missed posting some information/knowledge that I found was crucial in setting up the hotspot. In posting my experience, I hope to fill in some gaps and help others just as I have been helped.
I set up my Pi hotspot using Raspbian and I am going to assume that you have got this set up on your SD card.
In my setup, I have the wired Ethernet cable connect to the router provided by my ISP. I use the Edimax EW-7318USG dongle. It is a couple of years old but it is supported by Linux out of the box.
Note that all commands are run from a terminal window. I also assume you know how to use the nano editor. You also need to know a bit about how networks are defined by IPs (Get this knowledge from the Internet if you have problems in this area).
Step 1
After you start up the Pi, update your system:-
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
Type:-
ifconfig -a
and ensure that you see the eth0 and wlan0 listed. Make a note of the IP address of eth0. For example, mine says 192.168.1.77 and this IP is assigned by the DHCP server of my router.
You need to know this as your wlan0 needs to be set up on a different network - for example 192.168.0.0. (Please look at the numbers carefully and compare with those assigned to eth0).
If you cannot see wlan0, your wifi adapter may not be detected or supported. Search the Internet for solutions.
Step 2
Install iw:-
sudo apt-get install iw
After the installation, run:-
iw list
You should see some thing like this:-
Supported RX frame types:
* IBSS: 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* managed: 0x40 0xd0
* AP: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* AP/VLAN: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* mesh point: 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
* P2P-client: 0x40 0xd0
* P2P-GO: 0x00 0x20 0x40 0xa0 0xb0 0xc0 0xd0
Note that you have "AP" and "AP/VLAN" which indicate that your wlan0 can support hotspot configuration. If not, you may need to buy another adapter.
Step 3
Get the necessary software:-
sudo apt-get install hostapd isc-dhcp-server iptables
Step 4
Configure your network interfaces (if you are worried, make a backup of all the files before changing them):-
sudo nano /etc/network/interaces
When the editor opens, change the entries to look something like this:-
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
iface eth0 inet dhcp
allow-hotplug wlan0
iface wlan0 inet static
address 192.168.0.1
netmask 255.255.255.0
##iface wlan0 inet manual
##wpa-roam /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
##iface default inet dhcp
up iptables-restore < /etc/iptables.ipv4.nat
You can see that I have assigned the IP address 192.168.0.1 to my wlan0. Remember, the wlan0 must be on a different network from eth0.
Step 5
Now you configure the DHCP server, isc-dhcp-server.
sudo nano /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf
Search through the file to find the location which says something like:-
default-lease-time 600;
max-lease-time 7200;
# If this DHCP server is the official DHCP server for the local
# network, the authoritative directive should be uncommented.
#authoritative;
authoritative;
Remove the hex sign "#" so that the line containing "authoritative" looks like this:-
default-lease-time 600;
max-lease-time 7200;
# If this DHCP server is the official DHCP server for the local
# network, the authoritative directive should be uncommented.
authoritative;
Next go to the bottom of the file and enter the following:-
subnet 192.168.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
range 192.168.0.10 192.168.0.20;
option broadcast-address 192.168.0.255;
option routers 192.168.0.1;
default-lease-time 600;
max-lease-time 7200;
option domain-name "local";
option domain-name-servers 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4;
}
Note that the above are my figures. Take note of those numbers starting with "192" and change them to suit your need. But remember they must be on the same network but different from that of eth0.
After you are done, save the file.
Next you need to link isc-dhcp-server to wlan0. Do the following:-
sudo nano /etc/default/isc-dhcp-server
Scroll down to INTERFACES="" and change it to say INTERFACES="wlan0"
Save the changes.
Step 6
Configure the access point - hostapd by creating the hostapd configuration file:-
sudo nano /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf
Type the following into the empty file:-
interface=wlan0
driver=nl80211
#driver=rtl871xdrv
ssid=YourRaspberryPiRouter
hw_mode=g
channel=6
macaddr_acl=0
auth_algs=1
ignore_broadcast_ssid=0
wpa=2
wpa_passphrase=YourPiRouterPhrase
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
wpa_pairwise=TKIP
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
Replace "YourRaspberryPiRouter" and "YourPiRouterPhrase" with something suitable for your case.
Note that the nl80211 driver works for me. Your wifi adapter may use another driver. But I recommend you try nl80211 first as the hostapd software that comes with Raspbian works with this. If you use another driver, you may need to tweak hostapd and I do not know how to do that.
Do not put in extra space at the end of the file. hostapd can be picky.
Once you are done, save the file.
Now we will tell hostapd where to find this configuration file:-
sudo nano /etc/default/hostapd
Find the line #DAEMON_CONF="" and edit it so it says DAEMON_CONF="/etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf"
Remember to remove the # in front of "DAEMON".
Then save the file
Step 7
You will now configure the iptables to ensure that eth0 communicates with wlan0:-
sudo nano /etc/sysctl.conf
Go to the bottom and add the following line to start IP forwarding on boot:-
net.ipv4.ip_forward=1
Save the file.
Also run
sudo sh -c "echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward"
Run the following (3 lines) to create the rules for iptables:-
sudo iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o eth0 -j MASQUERADE
sudo iptables -A FORWARD -i eth0 -o wlan0 -m state --state ELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT
sudo iptables -A FORWARD -i wlan0 -o eth0 -j ACCEPT
Save the rules by typing:-
sudo sh -c "iptables-save > /etc/iptables.ipv4.nat"
Step 8
To ensure that hostapd and isc-dhcp-server start up on boot, type the following:-
sudo update-rc.d hostapd enable
sudo update-rc.d isc-dhcp-server enable
The setup is completed. Restart Pi:-
sudo shutdown -r now
After Pi boots up, use another device (tablet, HP, computer) to scan for the hotspot. It should show up and allow you to connect to it.
If you encounter errors, try the following:-
Run hostapd and see what error messages are displayed and correct them.
sudo /usr/sbin/hostapd /etc/hostapt/hostapd.conf
Restart isc-dhcp-server to see if it display any errors and correct them.
sudo /etc/init.d/isc-dhcp-server restart
The iptables rules can be viewed by typing:-
iptables -L
Mine shows:-
Chain INPUT (policy ACCEPT)
target prot opt source destination
Chain FORWARD (policy ACCEPT)
target prot opt source destination
ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere state RELATED,ESTABLISHED
ACCEPT all -- anywhere anywhere
Chain OUTPUT (policy ACCEPT)
target prot opt source destination
I hope the above helps. I am not an expert but just want to share my experience. Good luck.
