How to change wifi router settings programmatically?

Question

API

Good afternoon. I can't find any answers anywhere, so I'm hoping there's something here.
Basic knowledge of network administration is available, build a network using LAN, Wi-Fi and settings through the router administration page.
There is a task - to organize a wireless network according to the "star" principle and write a small billing system for this network. As an example, the Wi-Fi network of the Moscow metro will come down, where you do not have access to Internet resources until you see an invitation page on the web page opened through your mobile phone and click "Login" (by the way, Cisco equipment is used in the metro).
There are tools - a PC with Windows OS, with Ubuntu 14.04 OS, routers with three modes (router, repeater, I don’t remember the third one).
There is a question - how to automate the process of administering a network of routers and write something like a billing system? It is necessary to change the list of blocked IPs, limit the speed on ports, etc. TO THE ENTIRE network. I want to do all this through my own software or the API of router manufacturers (I didn’t find the second one, but it may still be).
I found information that this can be done via telnet. Is it a reliable universal tool or is it better to use some solutions from network equipment manufacturers (API or other protocols)?

Answer 1

As an example, the Wi-Fi network of the Moscow metro will come down

come down

Boldly.

There is a question - how to automate the process of administering a network of routers and write something like a billing system? It is necessary to change the list of blocked IPs, limit the speed on ports, etc. TO THE ENTIRE network

First, I recommend deciding on the network architecture, then understanding exactly which parameters, how and on which devices you need to change. Secondly, devices can be configured via a remote console (telnet / ssh, the second is preferable from a security point of view), via SNMP (user / community with write access) and probably via API (Junos XML API, NETCONF), if the manufacturer provides it (see device documentation).

and write something like a billing system?

If legalization is planned (obtaining licenses to conduct activities, etc.), then billing must be certified, so it would be more logical to study the existing options (there are free certified billings, as far as I know). If you still want to write your own, then collect netflow-/sflow- data and analyze it (for example, using a wrapper script over flow-tools as a first approximation). If by "billing" you mean a page with payment details and a "buy some Internet" button, then look towards the captive portal.

I found information that this can be done via telnet. Is it a reliable universal remedy

Reliable - no (all traffic, including passwords, is transmitted in clear text), universal - yes. Reliable (with proper configuration) and universal (although there are exceptions) is ssh.

Do I understand correctly that the approach does not change if I want to build a high load wireless network (from 1000 users) on ubiquiti equipment?

In the case of using equipment from one vendor, it makes sense to pay attention to the presence of such complex solutions in this vendor, including solutions for centralized management.

I have little experience in this, there are many questions - perhaps it will be convenient for you to tell all the approaches and suggest literature for reading by mail?

Unfortunately, I have never created a wireless network of this magnitude, so I do not consider myself entitled to give advice (after all, you are still responsible for potential failure). Let me just say that if I were you, I would try to:
1) turn to integrators (as you have already been explained), even if you are not satisfied with their conditions, during the dialogue you will better understand the desired characteristics of the network
2) independently flash the existing OpenWRT devices (in order to uniformity) and implement the desired on a smaller scale (but with comprehensive monitoring, captive portal, etc.). It will also help you figure out where your gaps in understanding are.

Answer 2

What equipment do you have? If routers, for example, are MikroTik, then all this is perfectly configured through their OS.