Linux Wifi Hotspot: Feature-rich WiFi Hotspot Creator

Feature-rich wifi hotspot creator for Linux which provides both GUI and command-line interface. It is also able to create a hotspot using the same wifi card which is connected to an AP already ( Similar to Windows 10).

Update

• Add MAC filter
• Support enabling IEEE80211n and IEEE80211ac
• Release Debian package

Features

• Share your wifi like in Windows – Use wifi and enable hotspot at the same time.
• Share access point from any network interface
• MAC filter
• Includes Both command line and gui.
• Support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz (Need to be compatible with your wifi adapter). Ex: You have connected to the 5GHz network and share a connection with 2.4GHz.
• Select Channel.
• Hide SSID
• Create an AP (Access Point) at any channel.
• Choose one of the following encryptions: WPA, WPA2, WPA/WPA2, Open (no encryption).
• Disable communication between clients (client isolation).
• IEEE 802.11n & 802.11ac support
• Internet sharing methods: NATed or Bridged or None (no Internet sharing).
• Choose the AP Gateway IP (only for ‘NATed’ and ‘None’ Internet sharing methods).
• You can create an AP with the same interface you are getting your Internet connection.
• You can pass your SSID and password through pipe or through arguments (see examples).

If any problems with RealTeK Wifi Adapters see this

Installation

General

git clone https://github.com/lakinduakash/linux-wifi-hotspot
cd linux-wifi-hotspot

#build binaries
make

#install
sudo make install

Uninstallation

sudo make uninstall

Debian/Ubuntu

Download the debian package from latest release

OR

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lakinduakash/lwh
sudo apt install linux-wifi-hotspot

Arch based distributions

Install with:

yay -S linux-wifi-hotspot

Gentoo

emerge layman
layman -f -a jorgicio
emerge net-wireless/create_ap

Dependencies

General

• bash
• util-linux (for getopt)
• procps or procps-ng
• hostapd
• iproute2
• iw
• iwconfig (you only need this if ‘iw’ can not recognize your adapter)
• haveged (optional)

Make sure you have those dependencies by typing them in terminal. If any of dependencies fail install it using your distro’s package manager

For ‘NATed’ or ‘None’ Internet sharing method

• dnsmasq
• iptables

To build from source

• make
• gcc and g++
• build-essential
• pkg-config
• gtk
• libgtk-3-dev

On Ubuntu or debian install dependencies by,

sudo apt install -y libgtk-3-dev build-essential gcc g++ pkg-config make hostapd

Running

You can launch the GUI by searching for “Wifi Hotspot” in the Application Menu or using the terminal with:

wihotspot

Examples CLI:

• No passphrase (open network):

create_ap wlan0 eth0 MyAccessPoint

• WPA + WPA2 passphrase:

create_ap wlan0 eth0 MyAccessPoint MyPassPhrase

• AP without Internet sharing:

create_ap -n wlan0 MyAccessPoint MyPassPhrase

• Bridged Internet sharing:

create_ap -m bridge wlan0 eth0 MyAccessPoint MyPassPhrase

• Bridged Internet sharing (pre-configured bridge interface):

create_ap -m bridge wlan0 br0 MyAccessPoint MyPassPhrase

• Internet sharing from the same WiFi interface:

create_ap wlan0 wlan0 MyAccessPoint MyPassPhrase

• Choose a different WiFi adapter driver:

create_ap --driver rtl871xdrv wlan0 eth0 MyAccessPoint MyPassPhrase

• No passphrase (open network) using pipe:

echo -e "MyAccessPoint" | create_ap wlan0 eth0

• WPA + WPA2 passphrase using pipe:

echo -e "MyAccessPoint\nMyPassPhrase" | create_ap wlan0 eth0

• Enable IEEE 802.11n:

create_ap --ieee80211n --ht_capab '[HT40+]' wlan0 eth0 MyAccessPoint MyPassPhrase

• Client Isolation:

create_ap --isolate-clients wlan0 eth0 MyAccessPoint MyPassPhrase

Run on Startup

The wihotspot GUI uses create_ap to create and manage access points. This service and core logic was originally created by @oblique, and are now maintained in this repository.

Start the hotspot service on startup (using your saved configuration) with:

systemctl enable create_ap

Start service immediately:

systemctl start create_ap