Controllerless Networks

Hi

 

I have a customer who has deployed an IAP network for guests Internet access. They want to configure the network to request the user´s e-mail address for granting internet access.

 

Their intention is to keep the user´s e-mail address for marketing purposes.

 

I recommended using an external captive portal for doing so but the customer does not have experience on kind of this solution and asked us for help.

 

I also need help on this because I don’t have experience either.

 

I was searching in Internet and I found several captive portal solutions (WifiDog, Coova Chilli, etc.) but I do not know which one could be the best alternative for doing the customer wants to do.

 

Could someone help me on this?

 

Regards

 

Fabián

Hi Fabianhs,

 

Aruba Clearpass will certainly do this and can also verify the guest emails address before it allows them on the network, so is a great option.. There's also a method of capturing email addresses via the captive portal by using the internal acknowledged "security" option. This will allow the guest to enter an email address to gain access to the network, but the email address will not be verified. We have a customer who used to do this and you end up getting a lot of spurious email addresses.. x@x.com, bill.gates@microsoft.com etc...

 

Cheers
James

Actually I think that option (internal acknowledge) is only available on a controller where it logs email addresses of guest.

The internal acknowledge is also available on Instant...however for marketing and data retentino purposes, ClearPass is definitely the way to go.  

Hi James

 

Thanks for the answer.

 

Yes, I understand what you are talking about spurious email addresses but I think is up to the customer to deal with.

 

On the other hand, correct me if I am wrong, Clear pass is ok but I think it surpasses the customer needs, and it would not be a cost-effective solution for them at this moment.

 

But if I choose Clear pass for the solution anyway, it is not clear for me how  to quote it, I mean, do I have to include Clear Pass Policy manager plus Clear Pass guest ?,  for which quantity of end points, taking in account it is for public access?.

 

Could you give me some guidelines on this?

 

Thanks

 

Regards

 

Fabián

No problem.

I'd recommend speaking to your Aruba SE about Clearpass licensing etc.

Thanks James

 

Regards

 

Fabián

Hi James

 

Sorry for bothering you again, but the customer wants to know, besides Clear pass guest solution, what other comercial or free captive portal servers are compatible with IAP solution to capture users e-mail address as I mentioned in my previous posts.

 

Could you please give me this info?

 

Thanks

 

Regards

 

Fabián  

Hi Fabian,

 

The company I work for only sell Clearpass Guest if a customer want a captive portal solution and I've not personally looked into many other,

 

What I can tell you is that IAPs should be able to redirect to any external captive portal web page.

 

Here's a good start: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=freeware+captive+portal&oq=freeware+captive+portal&aqs=chrome.0.69i57j0l3.10530j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

Cheers

James

Thanks James

 

One more question, we already offered Clearpass to the customer and he asked us how Clearpass stores the user´s e-mail address and how they can get them from it (I mean with a spreadsheet, text file, etc?)

 

Thanks

 

Regards

 

Fabián

  

They are stored in the guest user repository. I believe that can be exported.

Sent from my iPhone

Seth

 

Thanks, but I need something more specific. I was looking for at the Guest Deployment Guide but unfortunately I haven’t found clear information on this matter.

 

It is not clear for me where I have to look for the information I need.

Ah! Try going into ClearPass guest and the click on list accounts under guest.

This is also hosted in policy manager under configuration --> identity --> guest user repository

Sent from my iPhone

Thanks Seth

 

I´ll do this.

 

Regards

 

Fabián