[OPLINTECH] Wireless

[Chad Neeper]

I've been using IPCop (www.ipcop.org) as a firewall solution for my 
library clients. It's an open-source (free) Linux-based firewall that is 
a great fit for libraries. (It runs well on old hardware, is primarily 
configured via HTML interface and is pretty close to a turn-key 
solution, so you don't really need to know anything about Linux.) 
Wireless access points are essentially set up in DMZs on the firewall. 
Public (patron-controlled) wireless devices have access to the internet, 
but no access to the library's private wired/wireless network. Private 
(library-controlled) wireless devices are in a separate DMZ, also 
isolated from the library's private/wired (and from the public wireless) 
network. Holes are poked in the firewall as necessary for the Private 
library-controlled wireless devices to do whatever they need to do on 
the private/wired network. All networks are protected from the internet 
and from each other by the firewall.

Right now, there is no proxy splash/authentication page, but at some 
point in the future, I'd like to be able to provide my libraries with 
the ability to display a "Welcome to Your Local Library" type of splash 
page with the library's internet use policy prior to letting them out to 
the wild, wild internet.

So far, there has been good success with leaving public wireless 
internet access wide open without restrictions and available 24/7. Some 
of my libraries restrict access to the library's normal daytime open 
hours, but personally I prefer the 24/7 approach. Especially if there is 
some sort of splash page/internet use policy that is displayed prior to 
internet access, it is simply another means by which the library can 
reach out to and provide a service to the community, even when the 
building itself is closed.

My 2 cents.

Chad

-----------------------
Chad Neeper
Senior Systems Engineer
Level 9 Networks
740-548-8070

--   Full LAN/WAN consulting services   --
-- Specialized in libraries and schools --



Chris Brose wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Who is using wireless in their libraries?  And what equipment have 
> you utilized to isolate the wireless network from wired network?
>
> And has anyone discovered if the wireless access works best for 
> patrons if the wireless network is wide open, (for ease of use), or 
> set up with some kind of Hotspot Gateway so there is authentication being used?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Christopher J. Brose
> Network Administrator
> Tiffin-Seneca Public Library
> Voice: 419-447-3751
> Fax:   419-447-3045
>
>
>
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