Apple IPad wireless connection problem at WIFI hotspots and hotels

IPad has problems connecting to WIFI hotspots that throw an authentication page upon first HTTP request from the browser. Such WIFI hotspots use http page redirection in-order to read login credentials from the user. On IPad, the WIFI gets connected, the IP-address is leased, but the browser does not allow surfing, neither does IPad show the WIFI logo on the top left corner.

The problem is Apple's foolishness in doing the Internet Connectivity Test. Whenever a IPad gets connected to WIFI, it does an Internet Connectivity Test, by trying to fetch, "http://www.apple.com/library/test/suc". If the HTTP response is 404 Not Found, IPad assumes that it has been successful in reaching Internet. In case of WIFI hotspots, the http response returned is HTTP 200 OK, or HTTP 302 redirection. Upon receiving this non-404 response, IPad foolishly assumes that it is not able to reach to Internet.

Until IPad, rectifies this problem, the solution is that the WIFI router should whitelist "http://www.apple.com/library/test/suc".

Another ugly solution is to add "apple.com " in /etc/hosts file. This will take apple.com to the wifi hotspot's web-server and assuming that there is no file like "/library/test/suc" on the WIFI hotspot webserver, you will get a 404 not-found, and IPad will foolishly assume that it has got connected to internet.

PS: Just found a router called Cyberoam Netgenie which has a workaround for this problem.

Rejoice!

Diwali Skit (Cyberoam presales)

Just like previous year, time has arrived for pre-Diwali celebrations. As a part of the celebrations, rangoli competition and skits were organized. Cyberoam-dev team, called Indradhanush won the rangoli competition. There were 8 teams for the skit from Cyberoam department, and each one of them was supposed to play the state of corresponding department in 2012. Though the topic was not very zealous, each team managed to prepare a good script. Our topic was "Cyberoam presales team in the year 2012", lead by Alok. I was supposed to play the role of potter (kumbhar) called Sevakram, accompanied by a subordinate called Lakha (played by Sanket). The story goes like this. Seeing the television advertisement of cyberoam (played by Siddharth and Sneha), Sevakram gets impressed and calls up presales for a demo. The presales manager, Parajay Khujlani (played by Kaushal), visits the potter's village, and realizes that Sevakram wants to manage his donkeys with cyberoam. Adamant to sell the appliances, Parajay, convinces his new client, agrees to add some new features like weight machine and a mosquito repellent, and returns back happily with an order of 1000 1i appliances. Next day he sends his engineer, Khajur Shah, to install the appliances. It was followed by some witty punches as khajur installs the appliances on donkey's tail. Next part of the skit was mimicking Jimit (played by Alok), and Nehal. Alok did a wonderful act by shaking his neck continuously, and precise dialogues. Most humorous part was that of Nehal showing her new shoes to Jimit and forgetting the actual purpose of discussion. This kind of things do happen in our office in day to day life. In fact, Jimit has a passion for endless meetings (baithna padega :). The skit was wonderfully EOF'ed by Nidhi and Jalpa (Oj Maa, Mataji). It was fun to be a part of this play. They help us interract with new people, which we never do otherwise. I had to skip the last three skits and samosas, as i had to go to buy a new server at Mehta Stores, CG Road. Next three days are Diwali Holidays. Have Fun! & a Happy New Year!