Configuring Captive Portal on the Linksys LAPAC1750PRO AC1750 Pro Dual-Band Access Point

The Captive Portal (CP) feature in the Linksys LAPAC1750PRO AC1750 Pro Dual-Band Access Point allows you to block wireless clients from accessing the network until user verification has been established.  You can configure CP verification to allow access for both guest and authenticated users.  It also supports both IPv4 and IPv6 clients.

IMPORTANT:  This article is about Captive Portal configuration for the Linksys LAPAC1750PRO.  To learn how to configure Captive Portal for Linksys LAPAC1200 and LAPAC1750, click
here.
 
Authenticated users must be validated against a database of authorized Captive Portal groups or users before access is granted.  The database can be stored locally on the access point or on a RADIUS server. 
 
Captive Portal consists of two (2) CP instances.  Each instance can be configured independently, with different verification methods for each Virtual Access Point (VAP) or SSID.  The AP operates concurrently with some VAPs configured for CP authentication and other VAPs configured for normal wireless authentication methods, such as WPA or WPA Enterprise.
 
Captive Portal comprises the following features:

 
Global Configuration
Instance Configuration
Instance Association
Web Portal Customization
Web Customization Preview
Upload Custom Images
Local Groups
Local Users
Authenticated Clients
Failed Authenticated Clients

 
Global Configuration
 
Captive Portal feature allows you to block wireless clients from accessing the network until user verification has been established.  It implements a captive portal to support secure and customized guest Wi-Fi access®.  This feature is used in many hotspots to control wireless access in the area.
 
To access the Global Configuration page:

 
Step 1:
Access your Linksys LAPAC1750PRO Access Point’s web-based setup page.  For instructions, click here.
 
Step 2:
Click Configuration > Captive Portal > Global Configuration.
 
In this tab, you can:
  • Enable / Disable Captive Portal
  • Configure up to two (2) Instances
  • Configure up to two (2) Groups
  • Configure up to 128 Users
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Instance Configuration
 
You can create up to two (2) Captive Portal instances; each CP instance is a defined set of instance parameters.  Instances can be associated with one (1) or more VAPs.  Different instances can be configured to respond differently to users as they attempt to access the associated VAP.
 
To access this page, click Configuration > Captive Portal > Instance Configuration.

 
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In this tab, you can:
  • Select Verification type.  If no authentication is needed, you can select Guest.
  • Enable and set the Redirect URL – Enter the IP Address or URL.
    • URL must be in this format:  http://XXXXXXXXXXXX (HTTP or HTTPS domain)
  • Delete a portal
    • Select the CP Instance name, check the Delete this Instance checkbox at the bottom then and click Save.
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Instance Association
 
The associated Captive Portal instance settings will apply to users who attempt to authenticate on the VAP.  In this section, you can associate a Captive Portal to an SSID.
 
To access this page, click the Configuration > Captive Portal > Instance Association.

 
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Web Portal Customization
 
When users initiate access to a VAP that is associated with a captive portal instance, an authentication page displays.  You can use the page to create unique pages for different locales on your network, and to customize the textual and graphic elements of the pages.  Use this page to create and customize the authentication page.
 
To access this tab, click the Configuration > Captive Portal > Web Portal Customization.
 
In this page, you can:
  • Create unique pages for different locales on your network, and to customize the textual and graphic elements of the pages.
  • Configure Customization by selecting Create, enter a name and click Save.
  • Delete customer web portal selecting the portal name, check the Delete Locale at the bottom and click Save.
  • Select Background Image or Logo Image from the drop down menu.
  • Edit existing customer portal by selecting the name from the Captive Portal Web Local and click Save.
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Web Customization Preview
 
Use the Web Customization Preview page to view an example of the authentication page a Captive Portal user sees upon connecting to the access point.
 
To access this tab, click Configuration > Captive Portal > Web Customization Preview.
 
In this page, you can preview a customer portal.
 
NOTE:  The preview option is to make sure buttons are functional and you can edit the fields.  The Acceptance Use Policy default image window is not editable, you can however make sure the checkbox works.

 
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Upload Custom Images
 
When users initiate access to a VAP that is associated to a captive portal instance, an authentication page displays.  You can customize this page with your own logo and other graphics.
 
To access this tab, click Configuration > Captive Portal > Upload Custom Images.
 
In this page, you can:
  • Upload up to 18 custom images to use for custom web portals
    • File format .jpg or .gif
    • Limited to 32-character name
    • File size cannot exceed 5 KB
  • Delete images
Image Type
Use
Default Width x Height
BackgroundDisplays in the page background.10 × 800 pixels
LogoDisplays at top left of page to provide branding information.168 × 78 pixels
AccountDisplays above the login field to depict an authenticated login.295 × 55 pixels
Local Groups
 
Each local user is assigned to a user group.  Each group is assigned to a CP instance.  The group facilitates managing the assignment of users to CP instances.
 
The user group named Default is built-in and cannot be deleted.  You can create up to two (2) additional user groups.  The fields available on the page depend on the option selected from the Captive Portal Groups menu.
 
To access this page, click the Configuration > Captive Portal > Local Groups.
 
In this page, you can:
  • Create Captive Portal groups
  • Delete Captive Portal groups
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NOTE:  Each user is assigned to a group, and each group is assigned to captive portal.
 
Local Users
 
You can configure a captive portal instance to accommodate both guest users and authorized users. Guest users do not have assigned user names and passwords.  Authorized users provide a valid user name and password that must first be validated against a local database or RADIUS server.
 
Authorized users are typically assigned to a CP instance that is associated with a different VAP than guest users.  You can use the Local Users page to configure up to 128 authorized users in the local database.
 
To access this page, click Configuration > Captive Portal > Local Users.
 
In this page, you can:
  • Create a user
  • Assign a user to a group
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Authenticated Clients
 
The Authenticated Clients page provides information about clients that have authenticated on any captive portal instance.
 
To access this page, click Configuration > Captive Portal > Authenticated Clients.

 
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Failed Authenticated Clients
 
The Failed Authenticated Clients page lists information about clients that attempted to authenticate on a Captive Portal and failed.
 
To access this page, click Configuration > Captive Portal > Failed Authenticated Clients.

 
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Related Articles:

Getting to know the Linksys AC1750 Pro Dual-Band Access Point, LAPAC1750PRO
Linksys LAPAC1750PRO Business AC1750 Pro Dual-Band Access Point Frequently Asked Questions
Setting up the Linksys AC1750 Pro Dual Band Access Point, LAPAC1750PRO
How to configure Virtual Access Points (VAPs) on your Linksys LAPAC1750PRO Access Point

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