Default settings and configuration options for RaspAP

The provided document explains the default settings and configuration options for RaspAP, a project that simplifies the process of creating a software-based access point (AP) on a Raspberry Pi.

Overview

• RaspAP uses a pre-configured set of default settings to facilitate a faster setup process and eliminate potential configuration conflicts.

• After installation, users have a functional access point (AP) that can be further customised through the RaspAP web interface.

Configuration Directory

• Most of RaspAP's default settings are stored in the /config folder, including networking defaults, DNS servers, and wireless regulatory data.

• The hostapd.conf file is an exception and is managed by includes/hostapd.php due to its complexity.

• Baseline configurations for services like dhcpcd, dnsmasq, and bridged AP configurations are also found in the /config folder.

Managing Config Values

• The RaspAP interface and default Linux file paths can be modified by editing the config.php file.

• During installation, config/config.php is copied to includes/config.php and ignored by Git, allowing users to make changes without affecting version control.

• Default values are loaded from includes/defaults.php if they are not set in includes/config.php.

• Various settings, such as the brand text, enabled services, and Linux configuration file paths, can be customized in config.php.

Networking Defaults

• The default AP interface used by RaspAP is wlan0, which can be changed by modifying the RASPI_WIFI_AP_INTERFACE value in config.php.

• If a second wireless adapter is configured (e.g., wlan1), RaspAP will automatically detect it and assign it as the default wireless client interface.

• Default values for dnsmasq and dhcpcd services can be modified in the defaults.json file, which is copied to /etc/raspap/networking/ during installation.

• The defaults.json file uses the JSON format to define settings such as static IP addresses, routers, DNS servers, and DHCP ranges.

DNS Servers

• The list of hosted DNS servers available in the "Upstream DNS servers" panel can be modified in the config/dns-servers.json file.

• The file contains a JSON-formatted collection of hostnames and IPv4 addresses for various DNS providers.

• Edits made to this file will be immediately reflected in the user interface.

VPN Providers

• RaspAP version 3.0 introduced beta support for select VPN providers, defined in the config/vpn-providers.json file.

• Each provider definition includes details such as the provider name, binary path, installation page, account page, and command overrides.

• Modifying these definitions is not necessary unless experimenting with adding an unsupported provider.

Restoring Settings

• If modifications to RaspAP's default configuration cause the AP to malfunction, the defaults can be restored by performing a system reset.

• The reset option is available in the "System > Tools" tab of the RaspAP web interface.

Tips and Tricks

• Familiarise yourself with the steps involved in building a software AP from start to finish, even though RaspAP handles the process for you.

• Customise the RaspAP interface by modifying the constants defined in config.php.

• If using multiple wireless adapters, select the appropriate interface as the AP interface in the "Hotspot > Basic" panel to automatically assign the other interface as the client interface.

• Experiment with different DNS servers by editing the config/dns-servers.json file to suit your needs.

• If adding support for a new VPN provider, use the existing provider definitions in config/vpn-providers.json as a template.

Overall, RaspAP provides a flexible and customisable framework for creating a software-based access point on a Raspberry Pi.

By understanding the default settings and configuration options, users can tailor their setup to their specific requirements and optimise their wireless network performance.