Chapter 18:

DATA SURVEY

Creating a Mobile Wi-Fi Server for Surveys and Data Collection

This guide explains how to set up a mobile Wi-Fi server, ideal for delivering questionnaires or surveys to a group, such as customers or lecture attendees. This setup is perfect for interactive feedback sessions and collects responses in a database format.

Overview

• Purpose: Serve surveys/questionnaires through a mobile Wi-Fi server and collect responses in a database.

• Technologies Used: PHP, MySQL, NGINX, Lighttpd, PHPMyAdmin.

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with basic Linux commands and web server setup.

• Hardware: Raspberry Pi or similar device.

• Software: NGINX for web serving and captive portal, PHP, MySQL.

Preparation

1. Captive Portal and Hotspot Script: Start by downloading a pre-written script for setting up a captive portal and hotspot. This can be found at Jerry Ryle's GitHub Repository.

   wget https://github.com/jerryryle/rogueportal/releases/download/v1.3-RaspbianBuster/rogueportal_1.3_armhf.deb

2. Pre-Installation Configuration: Make some changes to automate the installation process. Run the following commands:

   sudo debconf-set-selections <<< "macchanger acchanger/automatically_run boolean true"

   sudo debconf-set-selections <<< "iptables-persistent iptables-persistent/autosave_v6 boolean true"

   sudo debconf-set-selections <<< "iptables-persistent iptables-persistent/autosave_v4 boolean true"

   To specify your Wi-Fi SSID:

   sudo debconf-set-selections <<< "rogueportal rogueportal/ssid string YourSSID"

Installation Steps

1. Install Rogueportal Package:

   sudo apt install ./rogue*.deb

2. Set Up Lighttpd for PHPMyAdmin:

   Configure Lighttpd to serve your PHPMyAdmin page and test contents.

   • Edit Lighttpd configuration:

     sudo nano /etc/lighttpd/lighttpd.conf

     Set the port to 8080.

   • Reconfigure PHPMyAdmin:

     sudo dpkg-reconfigure phpmyadmin

   • Create a symbolic link to the web directory:

     sudo ln -s /usr/share/phpmyadmin /var/www/html

   • Enable FastCGI modules:

     sudo lighttpd-enable-mod fastcgi fastcgi-php

     sudo service lighttpd force-reload

3. Configure Firewall Rules:

   To allow connections to the hotspot, edit your iptables rules:

   sudo nano /etc/iptables/rules.v4

4. Support PHP in NGINX:

   To handle PHP requests, include the following in your NGINX configuration (/etc/nginx/sites-available/default) within the server { } block:

   location ~ \.php$ {

   include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;

   fastcgi_pass unix:/run/php/php7.0-fpm.sock;

   }

Accessing the Server

• Connect to the Wi-Fi hotspot created (SSID as set earlier).

• Access the PHPMyAdmin page or other contents served through Lighttpd or NGINX.

Note: This guide assumes a basic level of technical proficiency with Linux systems and web server management. Ensure you have the necessary hardware and software ready before proceeding.