help with freeradius authentication that does not require client-side certificates

[Ivan Kalik]

> I'm using freeradius 2.1.6 on CentOS 5.3. I'm trying to configure the
> RADIUS server to authenticate for several clients. I've read that
> certificate based authentication is more secure as I understand. However,
> the nature of my wireless network (with users changing on a rather
> constant basis) does not allow to use client-side certificates that they
> have to install in order to gain access to the network.
>
> I've attempted to read the manuals behind the different types of
> authentication and how to configure freeradius for them but I've just
> gotten lost.
>
> All I want is a simple challenge-answer system to authenticate the user to
> the network. It does not have to be via a web portal.

Captive portal is the usual answer to your requirements.

> Can someone please help me or guide me somewhere with a manual that goes
> through every step that isn't outdated as the one's I've tried either rely
> on an older version of freeradius or talk about areas in files that have
> either changed with freeradius2 or do not exist anymore.

Enter portal details in raddb/clinets.conf. Enter username/password in
raddb/users. That's it.

Ivan Kalik
Kalik Informatika ISP