Add option to change hotspot password

[tim-moody]

• Add option to Control panel, only RPI supported
• prompts for hotspot secured (default is checked) and hotspot password (default from hostapd_password)
• button to Change Hotspot Security
• calls CMDSRV with verb CTL-HOTSPOT
• updates local vars with hostapd_secure and hostapd_password
• puts values in hostapd.conf
• restarts hostapd

[holta]

Sounds great, per @nzola's request.

Add option to Control panel, only RPI supported

Note that some people really do run IIAB on refurb'd / typically older laptops with internal WiFi hotspots, as explained here:

https://wiki.iiab.io/go/FAQ#Can_I_create_a_Wi-Fi_hotspot_using_an_old_laptop%3F

(So the functionality should really work identically there, just like with Raspberry Pi, generally with the laptop OS being Ubuntu or Mint or Debian.)

[holta]

Aside / hopefully it's completely extraneous and irrelevant (to @nzola's request here!) that dhcpcd is being replaced by NetworkManager on Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm — [so they are now revising] their documentation on "Setting up a Wireless Access Point" here:

• Update documentation for ahead of Bookworm raspberrypi/documentation#2314 (comment)
• Tutorial around building a wireless hotspot to bypass captive portals raspberrypi/documentation#2687

PS This new OS will have many revisions when apparently arriving imminently in coming weeks, with testing looking solid so far, thanks to @EMG70:

• How to pre-test RasPiOS 12 [cffi, cryptography, lxml "wheels" for Python 3.11 now exist!] iiab#3526

[tim-moody]

Then I would say all bets are off.

[holta]

FYI Raspberry Pi OS's dhcpcd to NetworkManager change might not be as consequential or fearsome as it sounds.

e.g. if hostapd is still handling the internal hotspot in the end, and it generally all works, as several have in fact suggested (but I have not verified myself!)

[tim-moody]

First of all and after looking into implementing this, I would like to add the security flag and password to the existing Config Internal Wi-Fi Access Point panel. So you will first have to turn on password security and run ICO. This way I am not rewriting existing network functionality. Then if it is turned on you will be able to change the password under Control.

[holta]

Is the conclusion that enabling a hotspot password might take 2-4 minutes — i.e. if the hotspot does not already have a password?

Whereas subsequent changing of the password should be very fast?

[tim-moody]

yes. took 2 min 40s on my rpi 4 to go from unsecure enabled to secure enabled.

[nzola]

yes. took 2 min 40s on my rpi 4 to go from unsecure enabled to secure enabled.

Great News! Thanks @tim-moody

[holta]

Should now be implemented by @tim-moody's:

• PR 0.7.1 Allow quick update of hotspot password #548

@nzola let us know how this works for you?

[holta]

@nzola let us know how this works for you?

"Your IIAB's internal Wi-Fi hotspot password is now rapidly changeable." is now posted to...

https://github.com/iiab/iiab/wiki/IIAB-8.1-Release-Notes#whats-new

[tim-moody]

Adm Cons help still needs editing too

[holta]

@nzola see also @tim-moody's new PR — regarding variable wifi_up_down — that toggles between dual-purpose internal WiFi and single-purpose internal WiFi:

• PR add functionality when wifi_up_down false #551

Can you help us test this out?

[nzola]

Yes. I will test it when I return home tonight.

…

On Thu, Oct 5, 2023, 11:13 a.m. A Holt ***@***.***> wrote: @nzola <https://github.com/nzola> see also @tim-moody <https://github.com/tim-moody>'s new PR — regarding variable wifi_up_down — that toggles between dual-purpose internal WiFi and single-purpose internal WiFi: - PR #551 <#551> Can you help us test this out? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#546 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AEH5MM4BBM7YHNYDP4PO3DLX532GBAVCNFSM6AAAAAA5IGU37GVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMYTONBZGQYTKMJWGY> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[holta]

Yes. I will test it when I return home tonight.

@nzola is it ok to close this ticket?

[nzola]

@holta please don't close yet. I will run fresh IIAB installs this week. If all is ok, I will let you know to close it. So far, i have not run any new install yet, but upgrade only.

[nzola]

Yes. I will test it when I return home tonight.

@nzola is it ok to close this ticket?

@holta Tested with fresh IIAB install ok. Please close this issue.
@tim-moody Thank you so much for your help!