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rpi-hostap logorpi-hostap

Configuration Assistant

An interactive tool that generates a Docker environment file or docker run command for the rpi-hostap container. Select options below and copy the generated output.

How to Use

Section titled “How to Use”
  1. Select band and country - Choose your wireless band (2.4GHz or 5GHz) and regulatory domain
  2. Choose channel - Pick a specific channel or use Auto (ACS) for automatic selection
  3. Configure security settings - Set WPA version, passphrase, and management frame protection
  4. Adjust advanced options - Configure SSID, network settings, and radio capabilities as needed
  5. Copy the output - Use the generated env file or docker run command

Output Options

Section titled “Output Options”

The tool generates two types of output:

  • Env File - A list of environment variables for use with docker run --env-file .env
  • Docker Run Command - A complete command you can copy and paste directly into your terminal

Required Docker Flags

Section titled “Required Docker Flags”

The generated command includes --privileged and --net host flags. These are required because rpi-hostap needs:

  • Full host capabilities to manage wireless hardware and networking (--privileged)
  • Host networking to bridge wireless traffic (--net host)

See Networking for more details on network configuration.

Full Documentation

Section titled “Full Documentation”

For detailed parameter documentation, see Configuration.

Radio Settings

Section titled “Radio Settings”

Configure the basic wireless radio parameters.

Security Settings

Section titled “Security Settings”

Configure WPA authentication and passphrase.

Radio Capabilities

Section titled “Radio Capabilities”

Configure advanced 802.11n/ac/ax capabilities for higher throughput.

VHT (802.11ac) and HE (802.11ax) require the 5GHz band. Select “802.11a/n/ac/ax (5GHz)” in Radio Settings to enable these options.

Network Settings

Section titled “Network Settings”

Configure the LAN subnet, access point address, DHCP pool, and DNS servers.

Network address for the access point LAN (e.g. 192.168.254.0).
IP address assigned to the access point interface. Must be inside the subnet.

Range will be computed as to .

Lease duration for DHCP clients (e.g. 12h, 24h, 30m).
Enables IPv6 NAT and routing when checked.

Advanced Options

Section titled “Advanced Options”

Configure SSID, station limits, MAC filtering, and other advanced access point settings.

Network name broadcast by the access point.
When enabled, the access point will not broadcast its SSID. Clients must know the name to connect.
Maximum number of associated stations. Set to 0 for unlimited (hostapd default).
Prevents connected clients from communicating with each other. Useful for guest networks.
Controls MAC address filtering. When enabled, requires a MAC ACL file.
Path to the MAC address list file inside the container (e.g. /etc/hostapd/accept or /etc/hostapd/deny).
Transmit power in dBm or “auto” to use the driver default. Leave empty to skip setting.
Wireless network interface to use. Default is wlan0.
hostapd driver override. Leave empty for the default nl80211 driver.

Generated Env File

Section titled “Generated Env File”

Environment file content for use with --env-file. Only non-default values are shown.

Docker Run Command

Section titled “Docker Run Command”

The complete docker run command with all required flags and non-default environment variables.

Name assigned to the running container.