Nomadix WLAN Controllers

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Introduction

Scope and Purpose

Thank you for purchasing the Trusted WiFi solution. This document is a hardware configuration guide describing how to setup a Nomadix WLAN Controller (either the AC-1LA physical controller or the cloud controller) for a Trusted WiFi Passpoint service.

  • For more information on how to setup an end-to-end Trusted WiFi Passpoint service, please refer to the Trusted WiFi Passpoint Administration Guide.

  • For complete information on how to setup a Nomadix WLAN Controller, please refer to the Nomadix Wireless Controller Web-Based Configuration Guide.

Documentation Conventions

The following conventions are used throughout this document:

Notes: Helpful information, suggestions or references.

Warning: Important notification that something might result in a configuration not working, loss of data, equipment damage or personal injury.

Bold and/or green: commands, command options and keywords.

Italics: variable, input requirement for a valid parameter.

Passpoint Overview

Passpoint – also known as Hotspot 2.0 – is an industry-wide next generation approach to public internet access driven by the Wi-Fi Alliance that brings the following benefits:

  • Frictionless onboarding and roaming, thanks to a one-time registration followed by automatic access to interconnected hotspots

  • More secure and private Wi-Fi connections, compared with general visitor networks

Passpoint is based on the IEEE 802.11u standard, which is a set of protocols enabling cellular-like roaming. Following the initial enrollment, frequent users such as visitors, guests or employees bypass repeated logins, forms and passwords, as their mobile devices automatically join the Wi-Fi subscriber service when they return to a venue or roam between inter-linked Passpoint enabled hotpots and providers, while being better protected against potential cyber threats.

If a device supports 802.11u and is enrolled to a service, it automatically communicates with the Wi-Fi infrastructure via the access points to discover the network SSID and connects securely to it by presenting its access credentials. Upon successful authentication, the device is provisioned with Passpoint standards-based management objects - known as Per-Provider Subscription Management Objects (PPS-MO).

GlobalReach - an ASSA ABLOY company - has been involved with Passpoint since its inception and even contributed to the creation and initial pilot testing of the standard. As a result, it is one of the few trusted worldwide experts on this topic, with a proven platform backed by real-world operational experiences at scale.

The best user experience is to offer Passpoint through a customer/brand mobile app integration, as it further simplifies the onboarding process, while incentivizing app downloads and customer loyalty, leading to further engagement and monetization opportunities. To this effect, Trusted WiFi offers a Software Development Kit (SDK) for easy app integration.

End-to-End Service Components

Implementing an end-to-end Trusted WiFi Passpoint service requires a combination of the following software and hardware components:

  • Trusted WiFi Passpoint: the core services are offered and managed centrally via the Trusted WiFi Passpoint Module (hosted and operated by GlobalReach). Following an initial setup performed by the GlobalReach Operations team, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can then add sites to customer realms and monitor the solution.

  • Customer Realm: the service requires connectivity to a realm including domain, security certificate and private key, as well as the database holding the users’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII). It is the responsibility of the Identity Provider – typically the customer/brand – to make this part available.

  • Mobile App: the best user experience is to offer Passpoint through a customer/brand mobile app integration. Trusted WiFi offers a Software Development Kit (SDK) for easy implementation. It is the responsibility of the app owner – typically the customer/brand – to perform the integration.

  • Local Networks: the local networks must be compliant with Passpoint (Hotspot 2.0). – Most recent   Wi-Fi access points and controllers from major vendors support Passpoint today, however older models or products from more exotic manufacturers might not do. The configuration of the local infrastructure is typically handled by the Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

  • User Devices: the subscribers’ mobile devices (belonging to visitors, guests, employees, etc.) must be compliant with Passpoint (Hotspot 2.0) – All recent iOS and Android-based smartphones or tablets support Passpoint today, however older models or products running less popular operating systems might not do. Laptops compatibility is also more erratic. It is therefore essential to maintain a traditional onboarding service in parallel with Passpoint to handle non-compatible devices.

High-Level Topology

The diagram below illustrates the high-level topology for the end-to-end Trusted WiFi Passpoint service:

Glossary

The following is a glossary of the most common terms used regarding this solution.

Term

Abbreviation

Description

Deployment

-

Enabling of a Trusted WiFi product module for a property via the Trusted WiFi interface.

Module

-

Product or service purchased from Trusted WiFi that is managed through its own sub-section via the Trusted WiFi interface.

License

-

Legal agreement that grants users the right to use specific software, outlining terms and conditions for its usage, distribution, and potential modifications, while protecting the intellectual property of the software developer.

GlobalReach licenses comprise of two different types:

  • one-off licenses - typically to initially enable a software module.

  • recurring licenses - typically including software updates and technical support, or more in the case of OpEx consumption commercial models based on price per month/quarter/year.

Trusted WiFi is sold as a combination of one-off licenses to activate the service and recurring licenses based on a price per Wi-Fi access point per month.

Managed Service Provider

MSP

The third-party company that remotely manages and monitors a client's IT infrastructure and end-user systems, offering services like network and infrastructure management, security, and 24/7 technical support.

Organization

Org

A company account in Trusted WiFi.

Operator

-

An organization type account in Trusted WiFi that is used by MSPs to manage a property’s Wi-Fi network.

Customer

-

An organization type account in Trusted WiFi typically used for customers/brands that allows grouping to view all properties belonging to the same company even if managed by several different MSPs.

Linked Organization

Linked Org

A link creating a relationship between an operator and a customer account, allowing a customer to view a property while allowing an operator to manage it.

User

-

An individual accessing a product, service or system.

  • In the context of Trusted WiFi, a user is setup to access products and deployments information at Admin/Editor/Viewer levels, according to their relevant role permissions.

  • In the context of a given product or service, a user is another term referring to a subscriber: the person at the end of the chain interacting with that product or service – usually through a device.

Property

-

Trusted WiFi concept representing an Individual site or location where products are deployed.

Linked Property

-

Site or location shared between operator and customer accounts.

Passpoint Software Development Kit

Passpoint SDK

The service that sits within the customer’s mobile app and that is connected to the Trusted WiFi RADIUS infrastructure allowing Passpoint profiles to be created for a given Passpoint realm.

Passpoint Realm

-

The customer specific domain that is used to provision Passpoint profiles that are approved for connection to any associated network.

Passpoint Profile

-

The security certified profile that sits on a subscriber’s device. If installed correctly it allows seamless authentication to the secure Passpoint SSID.

Secure Passpoint Service Set Identifier

Secure Passpoint SSID

The Wi-Fi network that is associated to the Passpoint realm configured to allow subscriber devices with a valid Passpoint profile to seamlessly connect to the Passpoint network at a property.

Subscriber

-

An individual person using a service.

Subscriber Device

-

The equipment – typically a smartphone, tablet or computer – the subscriber is using to connect to the service.

Collision-Resistant Unique Identifier

CUID

A unique identifier designed to be collision-resistant – meaning engineered to minimize the likelihood of generating duplicate IDs even in distributed systems – and more efficient in terms of space and database indexing performance due to its sequential nature.

In the context of Passpoint, a CUID is delivered to a subscriber device when it requests a Passpoint profile.

Customer Loyalty Mobile Application

Mobile App

The iOS and/or Android digital application used by businesses to engage and reward their customers through loyalty programs.

In the context of Passpoint, the best user experience is to offer Passpoint through a customer/brand mobile app integration using the Trusted WiFi SDK.

NOMADIX WLAN CONTROLLERS CONFIGURATION

Prerequisites

It is assumed the following prerequisites are met before configuring a Nomadix WLAN Controller (either the AC-1LA physical controller or the cloud controller) for a Trusted WiFi Passpoint service:

  • A supported Nomadix WLAN controller, activated and licensed.

  • A Trusted WiFi account with operator permissions.

  • A core Trusted WiFi Passpoint service configured and tested.

  • A property in Trusted WiFi with deployed Passpoint modules.

  • A deployed and configured Wi-Fi network.

Note

This document focuses on a specific part of the Nomadix WLAN controller configuration only.

  • Please refer to the Passpoint Administration Guide for instructions on how to configure the end-to-end Passpoint service.

  • Please refer to the Nomadix Wireless Controller Web-Based Configuration Guide for complete instructions on Nomadix WLAN Controllers configuration.

Warning

  • All properties must share the same NAI realm, RADIUS IP/port settings and SSID name for the Passpoint service (CustomerPasspoint).

  • Each property requires a separate RADIUS secret and NAS identifier, both generated when a configuration is activated within the Trusted WiFi management platform.

Core Passpoint Settings

  • Log into Trusted WiFi, then click on the Properties icon in the left menu to view the properties list.

  • Select or search for the property you wish to work on. This will open its deployments page:

  • Click on the Passpoint tile and then click on the Configuration option in the left menu to display the Passpoint settings summary as per the example below:

  • Take note of the details for your respective installation as they will be required at a later step.

Nomadix WLAN Controllers Configuration

Wi-Fi Network

  • Log into the Nomadix WLAN controller using your credentials:

  • Click on the Config tab at the top of the screen, expand the WLAN section and select Add WiFi from the left-hand navigation menu.

  • Click on Add WiFi/WLAN in the content area:

  • Enter the required information, being sure to select WPA2-802.1X for encryption type. Configure any advanced settings that may be required.

  • Click Next and specify the AP Group and other information to apply the new WLAN.

  • Click Finish.

RADIUS

  • Click on Radius Server Settings and select Add Server Group from the drop-down list:

  • Create a group called TrustedWiFi and enter the information for the primary RADIUS server.

  • Click Save, then click Add Server and enter details for the secondary RADIUS server and click Save again.

  • Primary and Secondary RADIUS servers should have been configured as shown below:

  • Click the X in the top right-hand corner to close the RADIUS server configuration panel. The WiFi/WLAN configuration reappears.

  • Select TrustedWiFi for the Authentication Server and Accounting Server fields:

  • Click Next. Specify the AP group and other information to apply the new WLAN if not already completed and click Finish.

Passpoint (Hostpot 2.0)

  • Expand the AP section in the left-hand navigation menu and select Hotspot2.0:

  • Enter a template name such as Passpoint and select the SSID that was created in the previous steps from the drop-down list:

  • Expand the Advanced Settings and scroll down to the Cellular section. Complete the settings as per the description below:

    Field

    Description

    Enable this DHCP pool

    Select Enable

    NAI Domain

    Enter the [customer domain]

    Auth Type

    Select EAP-TTLS from the drop down list

    Auth Method

    Select Auth-Method 2 (non-EAP Inner Authentication)

    Auth Param

    Select Auth-Param 4 (MSCHAPv2)

  • Scroll down to the end of the settings and click Save.

NAS ID

  • Click on the Maintenance tab at in the top menu bar, expand the System section in the left-hand navigation menu and select Web Console:

  • Using the command input box, send the sequence of commands shown below to configure the NAS-Identifier:


    Commands:

    configure
    wlan-config 1
    nas-id <nas-identifier from TrustedWiFi settings>
    exit
    exit
    wr