[OPLINTECH] Providing freeware/software...

[Chad Neeper]

It sounds like a caching proxy server with a large cache would do you a 
fair amount of good. It would also eliminate the need to maintain your 
file repository. Popular downloads would be cached and as their 
popularity fades or upgrades occur, the cache would float out the less 
popular downloads and http content.

At the libraries I support, I use IPCOP (an open source firewall) that 
includes squid, an http cache (along with numerous other services). This 
helps to conserve bandwidth and helps a lot with Microsoft Updates, etc. 
The setup works very, very well.

As a side note, I'm beginning to use an IPCOP addon called cop+ 
(dansguardian) for CIPA compliance. The added benefit is that it 
conserves a bit more bandwidth when it blocks content.

It's all FOSS (Free Open Source Software).

Chad

-----------------------
Chad Neeper
Senior Systems Engineer

Level 9 Networks
740-548-8070 (voice)
866-214-6607 (fax)

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



Shane Ian Hoffman wrote:
>
> I’m going to make a tangent on the ITunes/iPod topic…
>
>  
>
> I have a large number of kids who are routinely downloading specific 
> trial software and freely available games…in addition to whatever 
> they’re downloading that I don’t want to know about.
>
> The problem here is that we have limited bandwidth.  We have a T1 that 
> our staff uses to get to our central office to do our ILS work and 
> access other consortium resources.  We also have a RR Business line.  
> All of these downloads, however, are eating up our RR line.  Rather 
> than fork out another X amount of dollars for a 2^nd RoadRunner line 
> or considering one of those fancy schmancy 10 meg lines from OPLIN, I 
> was thinking about taking another approach.
>
>  
>
> I have tons of excess disk space on my servers.  I was thinking of 
> downloading a number of these games and apps to a share on the 
> network, and allowing them to get the games internally rather than 
> sucking up bandwidth downloading 50 copies of HALO3 Demo every day.  I 
> have a few questions I’d like to pose to everyone first…
>
>  
>
>    1. By making the software available via a library server, does that
>       imply that I also intend to support it.  I can make it generally
>       known that I don’t or make it available via an internal web page
>       that specifically states that I don’t.
>    2. Does this become a Pandora’s Box for everyone wanting software
>       available inside the library?
>    3. Is there any liability if we are providing easy access to the
>       consoles for subscription based services?
>    4. Legal issues related to demo or trials being hosted in that fashion?
>
>  
>
> If anyone has any experience with this set up or perspectives on 
> issues I haven’t thought of on the topic, I’d appreciate any input I 
> can get.
>
>  
>
> Thanks
>
>  
>
> Shane
>
>  
>
>  Shane Ian Hoffman
> IT Coordinator
> Pickaway County District Public Libraries
> 1160 North Court Street
> Circleville, OH  43113
> phone - 740.477.1644 ext. 232
> fax - 740.474.2855
>
>  
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> OPLINTECH mailing list
> OPLINTECH at oplin.org
> http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech
>   
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