MAC filtering, How to auto log in to a webpage?

Question

My building provides internet access but before you can use it you need to browse to website, from there you are redirected to the buildings router which asks you for a user name and password, after that it allows one MAC on the network (coffee shop/airport style MAC filtering). This setup is a pain. What I'm trying to do is set up an ubuntu based box, that will function as a NAT and bridge my own network with my three computers and my phone onto the buildings network using a single MAC address. The bit I'm stuck on is how to get my NAT box to log in completely autonomously. This has stumped a few people, any ideas?

Answer 1

You can probably do something like this:

1. Install HTTPFox (or other Firefox addon) to view what exactly is sent to the portal to authenticate;
2. Construct "curl" (command-line HTTP client) command that does the same
3. Schedule that curl command to be executed periodically or when connection requires authentication.