====== Access Point - hostapd ======

Howto create a WLAN Access-point with the hostapd software


===== Check, if your wifi card is supported =====

Find kernel driver:

  lspci -k | grep -A 3 -i "network"

Look for the driver in the output:
"Kernel driver in use: ath9k"

Check, if the output contains a driver supported by hostapd
  modinfo ath9k | grep 'depend'

"depends: ath9k_hw,mac80211,ath9k_common,ath,cfg80211"

..in this case, "mac80211" is supported


===== Install hostapd and dnsmasq dhcp server =====

  apt-get update
  apt-get install hostapd dnsmasq rcconf


===== Configure hostapd =====

Edit **/etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf**

**First test:**
  #change wlan0 to your wireless device
  interface=wlan0
  driver=nl80211
  ssid=test
  channel=1 

Scan for wlans and check, if the SSID "test" is visible.


**Complete config**

Change SSID, wpa_passphrase and channel:

  interface=wlan0
  driver=nl80211
  ssid=NAME-OF-ACCESS-POINT
  hw_mode=g
  channel=6
  macaddr_acl=0
  auth_algs=1
  ignore_broadcast_ssid=0
  wpa=3
  wpa_passphrase=PASSWORD-HERE
  wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
  wpa_pairwise=TKIP
  rsn_pairwise=CCMP


===== Configure network interfaces =====

Edit **/etc/network/interfaces**:

  auto lo

  # configure LAN for DHCP autoconf:
  iface lo inet loopback
  iface eth0 inet dhcp
  
  # set a static IP for the WLAN card:
  iface wlan0 inet static
  address 10.0.0.1
  netmask 255.255.255.0
  
  # address of the uplink-router 
  gateway 192.168.1.1


===== Configure dnsmasq =====

dnsmasq is used, because it is easier to configure than dhcpd

Edit **/etc/dnsmasq.conf** and add:

  # disables dnsmasq reading any other files like /etc/resolv.conf for nameservers
  no-resolv
  # Interface to bind to
  interface=wlan0
  # Specify starting_range,end_range,lease_time
  dhcp-range=10.0.0.3,10.0.0.20,12h
  
  # dns addresses to send to the clients
  # GOOGLE DNS-SERVERS are used here for testing! - you can set this to DNS servers of your provider or use your gateway
  server=8.8.8.8
  server=8.8.4.4

===== Init script to start hostapd on boot =====

Download this init script: {{:linux:network:hostapinit.txt|}}
and save it to **/etc/init.d/hostapdinit**

Run the rcconf runlevel init script configuration tool and enable "hostapdinit"

  rcconf

reboot & good luck

===== Source =====

Thanks to nims11!

  * https://nims11.wordpress.com/2012/04/27/hostapd-the-linux-way-to-create-virtual-wifi-access-point/
  * https://nims11.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/using-hostapd-with-dnsmasq-to-create-virtual-wifi-access-point-in-linux/