[OPLINTECH] Wireless

[Ed Liddle]

We have been using public ip ( http://publicip.net ) the free version to
manage our public wireless access point since March of this year. This
provides a splash page that our patrons have to log on to. We have a
link on this page that enable patrons to create their own wireless
account if they do not have one.
There is usually very little staff intervention needed for this.  

Public IP enables us to keep track how many people use it, how many
sessions there were, and what the total amount of time that it was used
(hours, min, secs).  Public IP does have the ability to filter, but we
do not filter our wireless access, nor do we encrypt it. 
 

On Thu, 2005-12-29 at 14:51 -0500, Chad Neeper wrote:
> 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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> >
> >
> >   
> 
> 
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-- 
Ed Liddle

Computer Technician
Marysville Public Library
231 S. PLUM ST.
MARYSVILLE, OH  43040
(937)642-1876 ext.45
http://www.marysvillelib.org