How to configure a wlan interface on hotspot mode

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1. Configure a wlan interface on hotspot mode[edit source]

Configure the wlan interface for systemd/netword

Add the following rule on /lib/systemd/network/

 cat /lib/systemd/network/hostapd.network
[Match]
Name=wlan0

[Network]
Address=192.168.72.1/24
DHCPServer=yes
IPForward=ipv4
IPMasquerade=yes

192.168.72.1/24: ip address affected to the hotspot device.

This configuration supports dhcpserver, ip forward and ip masquerade for this wlan interface: wlan0.

Create the hotspot configuration by replacing /etc/hostapd.config content by the following lines

 cat /etc/hostapd.conf
interface=wlan0
driver=nl80211
# mode Wi-Fi (a = IEEE 802.11a, b = IEEE 802.11b, g = IEEE 802.11g)
hw_mode=g
ssid=STExampleNetwork
channel=7
wmm_enabled=0
macaddr_acl=0
# Wi-Fi closed, need an authentication
auth_algs=1
ignore_broadcast_ssid=0
wpa=2
wpa_passphrase=ExamplePassphareNetwork
wpa_key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
wpa_pairwise=TKIP
rsn_pairwise=CCMP

STExampleNetwork is the visible name of the new wlan hotspot (SSID).

ExamplePassphareNetwork is the passphare associated to the wlan hotspot (SSID).

Correct one issue with systemd-networkd.service which does not enable the wifi link by default

Add the highlighted line in /lib/systemd/system/hostapd.service file

 cat /lib/systemd/system/hostapd.service
[Service]
ExecStartPre=/sbin/ip link set wlan0 up
ExecStart=/usr/sbin/hostapd /etc/hostapd.conf -P /run/hostapd.pid -B

Enable systemd service

 systemctl enable  hostapd

2. How to configure a gateway configuration[edit source]

For this example of configuration, the setup is:

wlan0: wireless interface connected to SSID_NETWORK with DHCP
eth0: ethernet interface with static IP which also have a DHCPserver on it
forward of packet are activated between the two network interfaces.

2.1. Configure wireless interface[edit source]

 cat /lib/systemd/network/wlan0.network
 [Match]
 Name=wlan0
  
 [Network]
 DHCP=ipv4
 IPForward=ipv4

IPForward: permit to forward all network packet from wireless network to other network.

Configure wireless interface for SSID_NETWORK network:

 mkdir -p /etc/wpa_supplicant/
 echo "ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant" > /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlan0.conf
 echo "eapol_version=1" >> /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlan0.conf
 echo "ap_scan=1" >> /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlan0.conf
 echo "fast_reauth=1" >> /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlan0.conf
 echo "" >> /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlan0.conf
 wpa_passphrase SSID_NETWORK PASSWORD_NETWORK >> /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlan0.conf
 or
 wpa_passphrase SSID_NETWORK  >> /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant-wlan0.conf

Where SSID_NETWORK PASSWORD_NETWORK correspond to the SSID and password of wireless network.

Enable the wireless configuration (to be take into account after reboot):

 systemctl enable wpa_supplicant@wlan0.service
         systemctl restart systemd-networkd.service
         systemctl restart wpa_supplicant@wlan0.service