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Virtually any
Internet-based Ethernet LAN can become a visitor-based network by adding a device generally termed a "VBN gateway". The function of a VBN Gateway is to provide a necessary layer of management between public users and the Internet router to enable a plug and play connection for visitors.
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In the simplest form a VBN gateway is a hardware device with a minimum of two network connections. One network connection is considered the subscriber network, and the other the uplink to the
Internet. The majority of VBN gateways on the market today all use Ethernet interfaces for their connection,
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access. A visitor-based network is most commonly established in hotels, airports, convention centers, universities, and business offices. It gives the on-the-go user a quick and painless way to temporarily connect a device to networks and broadband
Internet connections. A visitor-based network
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A transparent VBN's purpose is to provide network services to users to reduce support and/or IT infrastructure costs. Generally these networks are not concerned with security but rather fast and easy access. Metro Wi-Fi networks, or free to use
Hotspots are examples of this type of VBN.
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An authenticate for use VBN is most commonly found in business environments. In these cases the VBN gateway requires users to authenticate to the gateway in order to be allowed access to network services. Commonly this authentication is achieved via integration to
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Typical VBN Gateway provide services and support for billing and management application integrations, such as PMS systems (in hotels), credit-card billing interfaces, or Radius/LDAP servers for central authentication models.
49:) connection is required between the user and the VBN gateway. Aside from the layer 2 (or bridged) network requirement, there are really no other restrictions for using a VBN gateway to enable a network. As such,
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A common criteria for VBN gateways is they allow users to connect and access the available network services with little or no configuration on their local machines (specifically modification to their
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is used for a variety of functions including, billing or authentication and acceptance of terms and conditions. Once the user successfully meets the criteria in the
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usually includes hardware (such as VBN gateways, hubs, switches, and/or routers), telecommunications (an
Internet connection), and service (subscriber support).
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While manufacturers offer many different configurations for VBN gateways, a set of common features exist. Even the most basic VBN gateways provide
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A billing-based VBN is one where users are required to pay to obtain network services. Traditionally these types of VBNs are found in hotel or
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Generally speaking there are three models of operation for a VBN: Transparent, Pay For Use, and
Authenticate For Use.
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networks. Payment services are provided in a variety of methods, most commonly with a credit card
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to allow users to connect to the network with no IP address configuration required. A
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servers or by implementing access-codes which a user would be required to enter.
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are all acceptable mediums for distributing networks to use with VBN Gateways.
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147:, the VBN gateway then allows the user's traffic to be routed through.
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but as stated above, any layer 2 connection is acceptable for this.
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45:). In order to accomplish this a layer 2 (See:
24:intended for mobile users in need of temporary
102:in hot spot environments or integration to a
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164:Visitor Based Networking Definition
162:Definition partially sourced from:
47:OSI model#Layer 2: Data link layer
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1:
18:Visitor-based network (VBN)
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104:property management system
106:in hotel environments.
33:What is a VBN Gateway?
127:How does a VBN work?
110:Authentication VBN
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100:Merchant account
22:computer network
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90:Billing VBN
151:References
43:IP address
137:Proxy ARP
181:Networks
175:Category
51:Ethernet
26:Internet
55:802.11x
117:RADIUS
61:, and
20:is a
135:and
133:DHCP
121:LDAP
63:xDSL
59:CMTS
119:or
177::
57:,
53:,
16:A
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