Ubuntu – How to create hotspot without internet connection

17.10hot-spotwireless

I am using XUbuntu 17.10 and i have created a wifi hotspot, the problem is i want to use the hotspot for samba and other things that don't require an internet connection. how do i create a wifi hotspot that doesn't share my internet connection? is this even possible?

Best Answer

A simple solution is to use create_ap. From their site:

create_ap is a tool that helps you create an open, or encrypted AP at any channel, hide your SSID, disable communication between clients (client isolation), IEEE 802.11n & 802.11ac support, Internet sharing methods: NATed or Bridged or None (no Internet sharing)

For your case you want to create an AP with the linux pc without sharing the internet from your dongle to clients, but can do other Lan stuff, like file sharing.

Your wifi card needs to support creating AP

Install some packages:

sudo apt install util-linux bash procps hostapd iproute2 iw haveged net-tools dnsmasq iptables

Get the create_ap package. From the terminal do

git clone https://github.com/oblique/create_ap
cd create_ap
sudo make install

After installation, check the name of your modem and wifi card with ifconfig (deprecated) or:
```
iwconfig
```
the wifi card usually is wlan0 or wlp2s0 and usb modem is eth0. yours might be different
Now start hotspot from your linux without internet:
```
sudo create_ap -n wlp2s0 MyAccessPoint
```

You can then connect clients. Your internet would not be shared but you can do samba and other things without internet

Creating wifi-hotspot using Unity's default network manager without downloading any tool/software.

The method described in this answer only works if your wireless device supports master mode. To check whether it does, open a console and type

sudo iwconfig wlan0 mode master

Replace wlan0 with whatever Ubuntu calls your wireless device.

If you get an error, your device does not support master mode and this solution unfortunately does not work. Source: Community Help Wiki, this comment.

Disable WIFI and plug in an internet cable or mobile-broadband modem to your Ubuntu so that your Ubuntu is connected to wired or broadband connection and wireless is disabled.
Go to Network Icon on the top panel → Edit Connections, then click the Add button in the pop up windows.
Choose Wi-Fi from the drop-down menu when you're asked to choose a connection type:
In the next window, do:
- Type in a connection name. The name will be used later.
- Type in a SSID
- Select mode: Infrastructure
- Device MAC address: select your wireless card from drop-down menu.
Go to Wi-Fi Security tab,select security type WPA & WPA2 Personal and set a password.
Go to IPv4 Settings tab, from Method drop-down box select Shared to other computers.

When done, click the save button.

After above steps, a configuration file created under /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections directory. File name is same to the connection name you typed in step 4.

Now press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal. When it opens, paste the commands below and hit Enter to edit the configuration file.

gksudo gedit /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/wifi-hotspot

Replace wifi-hotspot with the connection name you types in step 4.

When the file opens, search for the line mode=infrastructure and change it to mode=ap.

Finally save the file.

Change mode to ap

When everything's done, enable WIFI from Network Manager icon on the panel. It should automatically connect to the hotspot you created. If not, select "Connect to Hidden Wi-Fi Network" and select it from the drop-down box.

Wifi Hotspot

Now you can search and connect the access point from your Android mobile ..... enyou <^_^>

Credit: UbuntuHandBook

Best Answer

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Creating wifi-hotspot using Unity's default network manager without downloading any tool/software.

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