* Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. * Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient, perfect for data-intensive real-time applications that run across distributed devices. * RADIUSdesk uses Node.js because of its support for Websocket. Websocket is a technology that is supported by the latest versions of all the major browsers which allow you to display data in real-time. * We will make use of Socket.IO as a wrapper to Websocket which runs on Node.js to read FreeRADIUS log file and debug output of FreeRADIUS in real-time. * To Summarize: Node.js → Websocket → Soket.IO → Client.

• Node.js and NPM (a package manager for Node).

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nodejs npm

• We need to install the following Node.js packages globally.

sudo npm -g install tail connect mysql forever socket.io@0.9.x

• Everything is now installed that we will need to enable us to serve the FreeRADIUS log file in real-time using Node.js, Websocket and Socet.IO.
• We need to install a start-up file, start the Node.js server up and confirm that it works.
  • The sample start-up script is found under /usr/share/nginx/html/cake2/rd_cake/Setup/Node.js/.

#The systemd startup file
sudo cp /usr/share/nginx/html/cake2/rd_cake/Setup/Node.js/nodejs-socket-io.service  /lib/systemd/system/
 
# add a sym link to node
sudo ln -s /usr/bin/nodejs /usr/bin/node
 
#Enable it
sudo systemctl enable nodejs-socket-io.service
 
#Start it
sudo systemctl start nodejs-socket-io.service

• Confirm that it is running on port 8000 by requesting the client side Socket.io library.
• Confirm it is running by checking the log file output:

sudo cat /var/log/nodejs-socket-io.log
#Result in....
info: socket.io started
Up and running on port 8000

• Request the following URL and ensure that you are served with some JavaScript. (Replace the IP Address to that of the RADIUSdesk server) http://127.0.0.1:8000/socket.io/socket.io.js

• Websocket is not supported in IE version 9 and below.
• Remember that this is running on port 8000 and some firewalls may block it.
• You are welcome to alter the port on which Node.js serve by editing the /rd_cake/Setup/Node.js/Logfile.node.js file.
• The start-up script calls Logfile.node.js during start-up. Depending on the web server you run; the absolute path of this script will change accordingly. Be sure to update this script as well if you change servers (Nginx VS Apache).
• Although this Node.js server serves the FreeRADIUS log file; it will only be visible if the requester provides the token belonging to root. All other users will not be allowed to see this log file through the Node.js server.

• If you are simply looking for a RADIUS server; you are done.
• If you are deploying CoovaChilli Captive Portals or Mikrotik Hotspots you must try the Dynamic Login Pages (optional but recommended).
• If your server has two network cards and you want to install CoovaChilli on it as a captive portal; follow these instructions:
  • Install CoovaChilli (optional).