Prepare Server

Install MySQL, PHP and Apache2

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y apache2
sudo apt install -y mariadb-server mariadb-client
sudo apt install -y php php-mysqli php-pdo php-gd php-curl php-mysql

Download latest from, unzip and transfer to server: https://github.com/hotspotbilling/phpnuxbill/archive/refs/heads/master.zip

Or directly on server:

  wget https://github.com/hotspotbilling/phpnuxbill/archive/refs/heads/master.zip

Unzip and move contents to default Apache2 directory (and remove default index file):

sudo apt install unzip
unzip master.zip
sudo mv phpnuxbill-master/* /var/www/html/
sudo rm /var/www/html/index.html

PHPMyAdmin and Database Installation

Add a global (root) MySQL User:

User: master Password: f!rstShip68

sudo mysql -u root -p (enter ubuntu user password)

CREATE USER 'master'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'f!rstShip68';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON *.* TO 'master'@'localhost' WITH GRANT OPTION;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
quit

Install PHPMyAdmin for ease of Database configuration

sudo apt install -y phpmyadmin

NB During install select apache2 as the webserver

Create PHPNuxBill blank DB and User:

Log into PHPMyAdmin via http://<server ip>/phpmyadmin and go to User accounts and add a new one. Slect a Username and Password and check the boxes to Create database with same name and grant all privilages and Grant all privileges on wildcard name

Copy the SQL tables for PHPNuxBill and Radius by using the Global User (master) created earlier:

mysql -u master -p phpnuxbill < /var/www/html/install/phpnuxbill.sql 
mysql -u master -p phpnuxbill < /var/www/html/install/radius.sql

The DB PHPNuxBill will now be populated with all the relevant tables

PHPNuxBill Configuration

Copy sample Config file and rename it:

sudo cp /var/www/html/config.sample.php /var/www/html/config.php

Then edit it:

sudo nano /var/www/html/config.php

Update the Database Settings:

User: phpnuxbill

Password: LfvGD53/7z@45AZ@

DB Name: phpnuxbill

$db_host    = "localhost"; # Database Host
$db_port    = "";   # Database Port. Keep it blank if you are un sure.
$db_user    = "phpnuxbill"; # Database Username
$db_pass    = "LfvGD53/7z@45AZ@"; # Database Password
$db_name    = "phpnuxbill"; # Database Name

Now set the Apapche2 user to own all files:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html

Add Cronjob

cron -e (select 1 for nano)

0 */4 * * * cd /var/www/html/system/ && php -f cron.php

PHPNuxBill GUI

Access via: http://<server IP>/admin

Default Username/Password = admin / admin

Add the MikroTik device

Go to Network > Routers

Add Name, IP address and Username and password for the MikroTik (or a dedicated user account added to System > Users on the MikroTik)

NB. Test you can ping and even SSH to the MikroTik from the Server CLI before doing this step to confirm you have access

Once added click Cek Now to enable Online Checking

Now added your MikroTik as a Radius Client (nas)

Go to PHPMyAdmin and click on the nas table

Then click Insert

Add:

Nasname: IP or resolvable Hostname of MikroTik

Shortname: Identifiable name for the MikroTik

Secret: Needs to match on the MikroTik

Routers: This is the Route Name / Location set on the PHPNuxBill Routers section

MikroTik Configuration

Radius Client

Now on the MikroTik go to Radius and add

Select ppp and hotspot, add the address of the PHPNuxBill server, Secret set on the nas table

Hotspot Setup

IP > Hotspot, click Hotspot Setup

Select the Guest SSID network

Confirm IP of VLAN interface

Specify IP pool to give to clients

Select certificate (none)

Ignore this section

Just IP of interface

Ignore this step

Ignore this step

Confirmation

Login Redirect

Download hotspot/login.html file

Replace it with this. Replace the IP address with IP of PHPNuxBill server

$(if error)
<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0; url=$(link-orig)&msg=$(error)&nux-key=$(chap-id)-$(chap-challenge)">
$(else)
<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0; url=http://10.200.21.36/?nux-mac=$(mac)&nux-ip=$(ip)&nux-hostname=$(hostname)&nux-router=1&nux-key=$(chap-id)-$(chap-challenge)">
$(endif)

On the Hotspot Profile edit the Radius Tab and enable Use Radius