Easy Debian hotspot loader

19 Dec 2009

Reading time ~2 minutes

Debian Hotspot loader

Last update: 2019.12.20

Debian hotspot on Wifi device using dnsmask and hostapd with a simple bash script for enable/disable it.

Installation

Please create the next script in /usr/bin/loadhotspot, also you can download it here

#!/bin/sh
###################################################################
# Load hotspot
# 2009-2010 Hpsaturn v1.0
# hpsaturn@gmail.com
###################################################################

DEVICE=wlo1
MODULE=iwldvm

start_spot () {
    remove_module
    sleep 1
    install_module
    sleep 2
    ifconfig $DEVICE down
    sleep 1
    echo -n "set static gateway.."
    ifconfig $DEVICE 192.168.3.1 netmask 255.255.255.0
    ifconfig $DEVICE up
    echo "ok" 
    echo "start hostapd:"
    service hostapd start
    echo "start NAT:"
    #/etc/init.d/load_iptables restart
    sudo sh -c "echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward"
    iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -s 192.168.3.0/24 -d 0.0.0.0/0 -j MASQUERADE
    echo "start dnsmask:"
    cp /etc/dnsmasq_ap.conf /etc/dnsmasq.conf
    service dnsmasq restart
}

stop_spot () {
    stop_services
}

stop_services () {
    echo -n "stop services.."
    ifconfig $DEVICE down
    service hostapd stop
    service dnsmasq stop
    echo "done."
    remove_module
}

remove_module () {
    echo -n "remove modules.."
    modprobe -rv $MODULE
    echo "done."
}

install_module () {
    echo -n "install modules.."
    modprobe $MODULE
    echo "done."
}

case "$1" in
  start)
    start_spot 
    ;;
  stop)
    stop_spot
    ;;
  restart)
    stop_spot
    start_spot
    ;;
  *)
    echo "Usage: load_hotspot {start|stop|restart}"
    exit 1
    ;;
esac

exit 0

Please change the next lines to right values

DEVICE=wlo1      # Change to right Wlan0 device
MODULE=iwldvm    # Change for right Kernel module device

Dependencies

Install the next packages:

sudo apt-get install hostapd dnsmasq

Configuration

Please add /etc/hostapd.conf

interface=wlo1      # The same Wifi device than above
ssid=HostapName     # SSID for your network
channel=1
hw_mode=g
auth_algs=1
wpa=3
wpa_passphrase=xxyy        # network password
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
wpa_pairwise=TKIP CCMP
rsn_pairwise=CCMP
#ignore_broadcast_ssid=1   # uncomment it if you want SSID hide

Add dnsmasq config file /etc/dnsmasq_ap.conf like this:

interface=wlo1                              # the same than above
listen-address=127.0.0.1                   
bind-interfaces
domain=YourDomainOrAny                      # set network domain name
dhcp-range=192.168.3.100,192.168.3.200,12h  # define dhcp range

Starting hotspot deamons

sudo loadhotspot start

Output:

remove modules..done.
install modules..done.
set static gateway..ok
start hostapd:
start NAT:
start dnsmask:

Stop hotspot

sudo loadhotspot stop

Output:

stop services..done.
remove modules..rmmod iwldvm
done.

Troubleshooting

If you have the next error:

Failed to start hostapd.service: Unit hostapd.service is masked.

Please run:

sudo systemctl unmask hostapd
sudo systemctl enable hostapd