How Does Internet Access at a Hotel Work?

Many hotels provide internet access now. After plugging the network cable in to the PC, a browser needs to be opened. The browser automatically opens a web page with the hotel terms of service and usually a login button. How does this work? How does the web page automatically show up in the browser? How is network access restricted until the terms of service are agreed to? How is network access granted after the terms of service have been agreed to?

Any time you log onto the hotel network you get a temporary IP address like a phone number. When you attempt to access the internet with a browser. The entire network is designed to direct all network requests through a single web server. The web server then looks for an encrypted cookie on your computer's hard drive if you don't have it then the web server pulls up the "please log on and agree" page. When you agree to the terms and pay the fee the web page puts the encrypted key on your hard drive and instructs the router to let your IP Address through to the internet until you log off or go out of range.

Then the next time when you come back the network gives you a new IP Address, and then you type www.yahoo.com or whatever, the network takes you to the web server, the web server pulls up your encrypted key, and then when the web server sees the encrypted key it instructs the router to give your new IP address access to the internet until you log on or go out of range. If you clear the cookies on your browser you may have to log in each time you want to access the internet.

Its basically just special software on their router. I assume that is the ammount of detail you want.

hope that helps :)