PPPoE and Hotspot

Understand access services

Centipid Billing manages PPPoE and Hotspot access through packages, subscribers, NAS configuration, RADIUS authentication/accounting, and service-specific settings.

There are 3 subscriber types: PPPoE, Hotspot and Binding. Packages come in 5 types: Hotspot, PPPoE, Data Plan, Free Trial and TV.

PPPoE

Use PPPoE for fixed-line subscriber sessions authenticated with a username/password. Typical controls include:

• PPPoE-compatible packages and credentials;
• expiry and account status;
• speed/data/FUP policy;
• pre-expiry reminders;
• automatic invoicing and invoice prefix;
• active-session disconnect/pause/block actions;
• NAS/service assignment and monitoring.

PPPoE settings in numbers

Setting	Values
Pre-expiry reminders	SMS sent 2, 4, 12, 24, 48 or 72 hours before expiry. Pick several.
FUP alerts	When monthly data use crosses 50%, 80%, 95% or 100%
Auto-generate invoices	On by default. Made ahead of expiry, using the reminder hours.
Invoice number prefix	Default INV, up to 8 characters (INV → INV-001234)
Monthly renewal	A 1-month plan renews on the same date each month: 4 Aug → 4 Sep. 31 Jan becomes 28 Feb.
Accounting updates	The router reports session usage every 30 minutes

A new invoice is not created while the subscriber already has a pending, partial or overdue one.

PPPoE troubleshooting should compare subscriber state, package, RADIUS session/accounting, router service, transport, and local CPE configuration.

Hotspot

Use Hotspot for captive-portal access, package purchase, vouchers, trials, receipt/credential login, and device policy. Typical controls include:

• Hotspot-compatible packages and portal visibility;
• captive theme, branding, terms, purchase instructions, and redirect;
• device limit and anti-sharing;
• vouchers and voucher agents;
• manual or online payment flows;
• session resume and disconnect-until-purchase;
• bindings for bypass/reserved-IP devices.

Hotspot settings in numbers

• Devices per account is set on each package, from 1 to 50. New packages start at 1. When the limit is reached, the subscriber is told to disconnect another device.
• Free Trial is a package type. Set Offer again after to 1–365 days, or leave it blank to allow one trial per device.
• Fair Use Policy applies to Hotspot purchases as well as PPPoE. It can throttle or block, and reset with each purchase or every day at midnight.
• Rate-limit is written upload first: 2M/10M means 2M up and 10M down.
• Routers report usage every 5 minutes for a capped data plan and every 15 minutes for other plans.
• Disconnect till purchase is an action on a subscriber’s session, for Hotspot and Data Plan subscribers. The subscription ends at once, and the subscriber must buy a new package to reconnect.

Binding

Binding is presented as a subscriber type but uses the Hotspot network path. It requires a router, MAC/device, and reserved IP. See IP and MAC bindings.

Enable services on a router

During provisioning, select the intended services and ports. On an existing router, the detail page shows configured PPPoE/Hotspot state and exposes supported service toggles. Disabling Hotspot or changing bridge ports is high impact. Inspect active sessions and schedule the change.

Choose the right model

Requirement	Usually choose
Fixed-line home/business login	PPPoE
Public Wi-Fi with package purchase	Hotspot
Voucher access	Hotspot
Device bypass with reserved IP	Binding
Customer portal account management	Either subscriber type, subject to configured features

Do not change an existing subscriber’s type only to work around a package or router problem. Type conversion can alter credentials, package compatibility, and network policy. Validate the desired migration first.