Vector Space RFID Access System

Overiew

Vector Space members need 24/7 access to our building. In order to provide this level of access and to keep the building secure, there is a need to restrict access to only those who are authorized. We have chosen to implement an RFID card access system to proide this type of access.

Hardware

The following hardware components are used in this project:

• HID card readers
• Mifare RFID cards
• Raspberry Pi
• Electric door catch
• Relay
• 12 VDC power supply

HID Card Reader

HID Readers use the 26 bit Wiegand protocol. Power and signals both at 12VDC.

6 wires, 4 logic: PWR GND A - INPUT B - INPUT LED - OUTPUT SPKR - OUTPUT

Software

The following software components are used in this project:

• Card reader
• Web client
• Web server

Installation

Hardware

TBD

Software

1. Use NOOBS to install a fresh copy of Raspbian on the Raspberry Pi

2. Connect to network with the wireless adapter

3. From the home directory, create a repos folder and clone this repository into it.

   pi@raspberrypi:~ $ mkdir repos
   pi@raspberrypi:~/repos $ cd repos
   pi@raspberrypi:~/repos $ git clone https://github.com/VectorSpaceHQ/RFID-Access.git
   

4. Install the python-dev package so that the native extensions for the required python modules can be built.

   pi@raspberrypi:~/repos $ sudo apt-get install python-dev
   

5. Install the virtualenv package so that we can install our dependencies in an isolated Python environment.

   pi@raspberrypi:~/repos $ sudo apt-get install virtualenv
   

6. Navigate to the server directory inside the repository and create the Python virtual environment.

   pi@raspberrypi:~/respos $ cd RFID-access/server
   pi@raspberrypi:~/respos/RFID-access/server $ virtualenv .venv
   

7. Enter the virtual environment and install the required dependencies.

   pi@raspberrypi:~/respos/RFID-access/server $ source .venv/bin/activate
   (.venv)pi@raspberrypi:~/respos/RFID-access/server $ pip install -r requirements.txt
   

8. The server requires an SSL certificate and key to be placed in the server/ssl directory. They must be named RFID.crt and RFID.key. You can geneate a self-signed key by running the following command and entering the appropriate details in the prompts:

   pi@raspberrypi:~/respos/RFID-access/server $ mkdir ssl
   pi@raspberrypi:~/respos/RFID-access/server $ sudo openssl req -x509 -nodes -days 365 -newkey rsa:2048 -keyout ssl/RFID.key -out ssl/RFID.crt
   

9. Start the server by running the following command:

   (.venv)pi@raspberrypi:~/respos/RFID-access/server $ sudo .venv/bin/python run.py
   @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
   No users found in database
   Creating root user with password HFYnxIWR*b
   You should change the root password NOW!
   @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
    * Running on https://0.0.0.0:443/ (Press CTRL+C to quit)
   

10. The first time you run the server there will not be any users in the database. A root user will be created and a random password will be generated. Use a web browser to navigate to the IP address of Raspberry Pi (e.g. https://10.0.0.144 ) and login as the root uesr with the random password. Select the Users button and then select the Change Password link to change the root user's password.

11. Stop the server by pressing CTRL+C

12. Add the follwing line to the /etc/rc.local file so that the server starts at power-up.

    /home/pi/repos/RFID-Access/server/.venv/bin/python /home/pi/repos/RFID-Access/server/run.py &
    

13. TBD - Add instructions for installing and running card reader

Development

TBD

Troubleshooting

RPI not booting. Pin 36 seemed to cause issues for me that were resolved by adding the following to /boot/config.txt dtoverlay=gpio-poweroff,gpiopin=36,active_low