[OPLINTECH] Bandwith Issues

[Eric Webster]

I don't trust OpenDNS personally and you should think twice too:
http://www.roedie.nl/2007/07/11/do-not-use-opendns/

<snip>
Moreover, OpenDNS decided that when you request www.google.com you
actually request google.navigation.opendns.com. Yes, did read it
correctly. They decided you actually didn't want to reach
www.google.com, instead you get redirected to one of their own sites
which looks remarkably much like googles own site.
</snip>

And then you read this that says they put advertisements in your search
results:
http://www.opendns.com/how/free/how-can-opendns-be-free/

Using a proxy server your could control your users traffic more. You
could give certain sites lower priority than others, or even block
certain ones at certain times of the day if you wanted to. You could
also do this by groups of computers as well if you wanted. I'm
personally only familiar with a Squid/Squidgaurd solution but I know
these features aren't specific to that software. Not a simple or quick
solution by any means though, but no true solution to this probably will
be. It would take some planning and likely some network reorganization
to use it to its fullest potential.

--------------------------------------
Eric Webster
Network Administrator
Worthington Libraries
http://www.worthingtonlibraries.org/
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: oplintech-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplintech-bounces at oplin.org]
On Behalf Of shivelri at oplin.org
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 2:55 PM
To: oplintech at oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Bandwith Issues

First step I'd take is to switch to a DNS service other than that of 
your IP I have seen a major improvement of DNS resolutions since I set 
all Library Computers and my home computers to Open DNSs addresses. This

is good if nothing else because of recent vulnerabilities within DNS 
recently uncovered, less known less attacked theory.

We have not had it too bad here, yet, but when it does get there we plan

on setting up bandwidth restriction for certain ports on the the switch,

or possibly blocking certain sources of high bandwidth use such as 
Runescape (this only in a worse case situation). Outside of this we 
would implement a separate line for the staff to give them as much 
bandwidths as they need. Although we did start blocking Myspace last 
year because of several issues one being bandwidth, but mainly because 
of complaints of inappropriate pictures and malware. It did, however, 
also increase the speed of our internet during peek times.

-- 
Richard Shively
IT/Webmaster
Greenville Public Library
520 Sycamore, Greenville Oh. 45331
937-548-3915