Redirecting a wireless client

[browe]

How can you configure a wireless network so as soon as someone launches IE or Netscape, they are automatically redirected to an interim site. Many of the hotels offering internet access do this the first time you fire up IE. Even though your home page might be msn.com, you are redirected to homepage.com (or whatever).

Thanks,
Brian

[yonah]

Browe,

I believe what you are referring to is being implemented by way of a proxy server. Essentially, because all of your traffic must go through the hotel's Wireless AP, it becomes a choke point for the network. The hotels then redirect all web traffic on the choke point to go through a proxy server. They can then flag your machine and determine what to show you as a homepage.

For example, many hotels and hot-spot companies will check your ip and mac address against their DB, and if you haven't logged in or paid for service, they will use a proxy to re-direct you to their sign-up page.