HEC to create complete Front End for Star-OS

[globalhec]

I would like to announce to everyone that High End Communications has begun work on creating a complete front end interface for the management portion of Star-OS clients.

The software will allow you to easily manage your users, see how much bandwidth their consuming as well as other stats. It will also allow your clients to log into a management interface so that they can also see their stats as well as do more advanced functions such as check e-mail (via pop server) get support (trouble tickets) or even pay their bill (paypal and merchant support)

A basic rundown of the features:

Admin Interface
Display Client Bandwidth
Set Client IPs
Set Client Bandwidth Limits
Set Client Friendly Names
Generate Billing Reports
Auto E-mail Billing Reminders

Client Interface
Display Bandwidth
Check E-Mail
Pay Bill
Run Billing Reports
Request Support


All of this will be accomplished by the following:

Administrators will manage data via a secure web interface (PHP with a mysql backend)
The server will then generate a radius file that will be automatically sent to Star-OS or the radius server of your choice.

Clients will have a special utility loaded on their computer that runs in the task bar, this utility will have several different options. (Enable/Disable Proxy Server, Support, Login to account) The Support and login features will take them straight to your web server, and log them into their account, where they will then have access to their accounts.


Well, that's pretty much it for now. I'm sure we'll add a ton more features as time goes by and as people request them. If anyone has any comments or questions or suggestions please e-mail me at jerry@myhec.com.

[bkehoe]

Looks very impressive - looking forward to it. :) What kind of pricing are you looking at? I assume staros isnt needed at the client end?

[globalhec]

We're looking at under $100 (Possibly just $49.95) and no Staros won't be required at the client end. You will be able to use any type of client radio and any router in between.

[funkywizard]

is it required to install software on the client end? can they run a web interface as well, so as not to have to install lots of software on each customers computer? I would rather install special software on my own machines to access the interface than do the same for customers.

[aunixguru]

Is there a timeframe for 1st release?

[globalhec]

I'm hoping to have a release out by the 1st of next month. (August 1st, 2004)

[globalhec]

Funkywizard - currently the clients would have to install a very small (700k) application that stays in the taskbar, this application allows them to easily enable the proxy server, as well as to easily visit your members area of your website (which we provide with the application)

This application is actually not required, if you don't want your users to have to install the application they could simply go to the members area of your website directly and use its features there. (They just wouldnt have the nice utility for the proxy server)

So really it can work either way.

The purpose of this utility is really to compete with Earthlink and Netzero's claims to have "Super High Speed dialup - Blazing fast broadband" or whatever they claim their networks to be - in reality these companies are just using a proxy server to speed things up and bundling them into an application that the customer can turn on or off as they please. - So that's exactly what we did, in order to compete with that we created a special "Hyper Speed" application that would allow our customers to "increase" the speed of their connection (when loading web pages).

Essentially it's all marketing, but it's an inexpensive way to add what appears to be a new feature to our ISP. (when it's really not)

It's kinda cool to say "High End Communications - Now with Hyper Speed technology"

So again, the application is all about marketing, the Client Front End, however, is all about functionality. (Allow the customer and you to easily manage their account, see reports, etc.) Which in itself is about marketing too in a way, it allows the smaller ISPs to have the nice cool management interface that the big guys have too.

[funkywizard]

sounds really good. I'm glad you can take it or leave it without having to give up the user management features. And you're right that sounds pretty good as a marketing lure. Could also be a nice way to use proxies without putting everyone behind a transparent proxy.

[globalhec]

Here is our planned feature list, if anyone wants something else, please let us know right away. A lot of the programming is already done, but now is the time to get any additional features in before the first release, otherwise new features may have to wait.. So speak up now! :-)

----------------------------



Client Based Software
--Brandable
--Change logo
--Change splash
--Change ISP name
--Change ISP short name
--Change running icon
-Enable Hyper Speed™
--Turns on Proxy Server in IE
-Visit Support Page
-Visit User Center
--Auto Login
---Based on E-mail / Password
----Stored in Registry
-----MD5 Encryption
-Configure
--Change e-mail / password
-Auto Update Software
--Check remote ISP server for upgrade
--Ask user if they wish to upgrade
---If yes, download it and run it


Server Based Software

-Administrator Interface (Username / Password)
--Add/Remove/Update Users
---Set IP Address
---Set MAC Address
---Set Bandwidth Limits
---Add Sub Users (Additional Computers)
----Sub Users Share Bandwidth
---All changes generate radius file and send it to Star-OS

--Reports
---Current Bandwidth Usage
---Past Bandwidth Usage (Day/Week/Month/Year)
---Client Balances (Paid/Owed)
---Generate PDF Reports for saving/printing

--Billing
---Send billing reminders
---Charge Credit cards (paypal / merchant account)
---Deactivate delinquent accounts
---Send past due accounts to a payment page

-Client Interface (E-mail Address / Password)
--Support
---Create Trouble Tickets
---Contact Support
---Client Forums

--Account Management
---Update Information
----E-mail
----Phone
----Billing Information
----Add additional computers
-----Adds to radius file
-----Asks for ISP authorization if desired.
----Purchase public ip / additional private ips

---Billing
----Pay bill
----View current bill / past bill
----Purchase Web Space
----Purchase e-mail accounts
----Purchase e-mail space

---E-mail
----Check e-mail (Webmail – POP3)
----Add additional e-mail accounts
----Purchase additional e-mail accounts
----Purchase additional e-mail space

--Web Management
---Purchase Web Space
---File manager
---Visual HTML Content Editor

[funkywizard]

I would like it if you had a feature that allowed you to tie bandwidth usage to billing. Since you have the bandwidth reporting and the billing, it would be nice to be able to add to the bill based on the amount of bandwidth used (over a given amount).

It's becoming a common way to curb abusive users by just letting them pay a little extra (well some isps charge a *lot* extra but I digress) when they use more than their standard monthly fee will actually pay for.

[tim]

all my radius configs use a mysql backend. Can you provide an sql interface to manage the radius configs directly.

[bwbboot]

all my radius configs use a mysql backend. Can you provide an sql interface to manage the radius configs directly.

Thats what i would like to see as well.

Bjorn.

[funkywizard]

I was also just thinking about the new static arp feature. Since I probably will be giving people static ips to make it easier to do bandwidth accounting and such other things, it would be nice to be able to use static arp too, that way people can't just set their ip address to something else to evade traffic stats collection. If there was an option to push a static arp entry along with the other customer data entry, that would be awesome.

[globalhec]

Idea 1: Billing based on usage/over usage
This will be a piece of cake, consider it done.

Idea 2: Mysql interface
This is a fantastic idea and shouldnt be hard to implement, I'll add two options, one to generate the radius file and two to interface with a mysql server directly

Idea 3: Static arp
This shouldnt be too difficult either, I shall add it as well.

[funkywizard]

thanks a lot :)

[szern]

Is everything post-paid? or pre-paid? or can accounts/customers be generated for both post-paid & pre-paid, based on time, day, month, bandwidth-utilized type of accounts?

Obviously, post-paid (on a monthly, untimed basis or monthly, timed or monthly bandwidth-capped) are for your normal WISP customers (which can automatically generate monthly billings and admin(s) can flag if the account is suspended or paid).

And, pre-paid (on a hourly or daily or hourly/daily, bandwidth-capped basis) would be for 'hotspot' guest-like users (who pay up-front via cash or paypal/credit card and the like).

Also is the server-end side written in PHP? so we can add on to it or modify to our liking if needed? (for example, over here in one of our projects, our customer uses Radiator running off a MySQL DB)
So, if its in PHP, we can actually modify the SQL queries/writes to the proper db/tables/rows catered in Radiator as opposed to FreeRADIUS.

Thanks!

[globalhec]

All coding is in PHP with a mysql backend, so it can easily be customized.

Also you'll be able to do both post paid and pre paid customers.

[szern]

Okay, thanks! :)

[tim]

Idea 2: Mysql interface
This is a fantastic idea and shouldnt be hard to implement, I'll add two options, one to generate the radius file and two to interface with a mysql server directly.

Great. If you did the latter the freeradius way with a customisable sql.conf file that contains all the sql variable assignments & sql scripts it will make it very easy to customise.

[lanebob]

In terms of static IP vs. a pool of adresses that customers use, gained by radius or DHCP or other authentication, I say that BOTH static and non-static should be available for accounting. That way, when the ISP gets to the point of figureing out that static IP's were not the best idea, then they can still use this product. The accounting issue is handily solved in a SQL database, with simple queries, and simple computations on the data bits returned.

[globalhec]

I agree and the application already supports both methods.

[szern]

How's the progress like? :)

[globalhec]

We're coming along. A little behind schedule.

As soon as my DNS updates I'll post a link to some screen shots, and a functional demo of some of the application.

[globalhec]

heh looks like we now have our own forum for accounting. Thank you lonnie.

Okay everyone, here is the latest. We are finishig up several of the individual components for ISIS (Internet Systems Information Software) (pronounced eyesys)

The website for this product, and several of our others is http://www.isptoys.com

This site is still being developed and I will be adding a lot more content, and more information regarding ISIS over the next few days. Also I will be posting function demos and screen shots for everyone.

Please stay posted.

[szern]

MIA? :)

[tbutcher]

I guess they are running behind but there has been no word to say so. The lack of progress is making me think that I should just write my own system.

[funkywizard]

I hope this is still coming along, it seems like a really great product.

[globalhec]

It's still in progress, we had some personal issues arise that set us back a bit. But we plan to release the software for testing in the next few days.

[aunixguru]

Please contact me if you need Beta Testers.

I have 2 wraps laying around just begginf to be used for testing.

Rich

[Anonymous]

I also have 4 WRAPs that I can use for a Beta

Regards,
TW

[szern]

Hrmm... Status? :)

[eliejhaddad]

we already liked this product FRONT END befor than it has been released and we need to test it to see if it will make that change in our business .
all i can say right now that i am waiting for the release thx in advanced .






regards
elie

[djdodo]

hi,i run IPSTAT and create DB on my RH9.Look on webpage http://82.142.76.36/ipstat/ipstat.php .How to connect IPSTAT or DB with my StarOS router and read IP info,collect to DB?

[Kasper]

funny...
seems every time i click on your 82.142.76.36/ipstat/ipstat.php link, i get logged out from these forums... :?

--[ oops! side-tracked myself ]--

anyway, there are perl scripts with ipstat that are used to grab the info from the station server(s). you'll need to either run them manually, or add them to a cron job so they're done automatically
( cron job is what i prefer to use @ 5 minute intervals )

[Anonymous]

Ahhh, more waporware........

[Kasper]

must be...
all i've ever seen of it is this page -> http://isis.isptoys.com/
but i've got plenty of those on my own server :P

[Mad Professor]

How are we doing?

[Taner]

If project has been ended or where it is possible to see ready software

[lonnie]

It seems to have had trouble, which is too bad, since lots of people needed it.

[Taner]

Something similar perhaps ?

[Mark]

I have managed to get some of it working.

The "hourly" seems to work.

The "weekly" graph wasn't ever even coded.

the "daily" doesn't work - or at least doesn't appear to.

it needs a "monthly", to make it useful...

Someone want to improve on this?

I don't know php and frankly, it would take me years to learn enough to do anything useful...