[OPLINTECH] OpenDNS

[Chad Neeper]

Thank you everyone for the great feedback! I keep coming back to revisit
OpenDNS because when I evaluated it originally it seemed very
straight-forward and easy to manage and, as Greg pointed out, it's one less
local system that needs to be managed.

A question for Ken, though:
"The “sledge-hammer” like approach can be scaled and actually makes it
easier as an admin. You don’t have to try and block every single site and
if there is a specific site you want to allow it’s easy enough to do that."
I don't think I really explained myself when I said "sledge-hammer", I was
thinking along the lines of the example  "images.google.com has easy access
to pornographic images...so we block images.google.com with OpenDNS...even
though it can be a hugely useful resource for many people."
images.google.com is either blocked or it's not (ignoring the fact that a
patron can request a temporary unblock.) What did you mean when you said
that it can be scaled? Are you referring to categories/groups that can be
blocked or unblocked?

I really want to like OpenDNS, but I just can't get around the feeling that
it would be taking a huge step backwards from where we are now. I keep
hoping that I missed something critical in my initial evaluation that would
change my mind!

Karl:  Thanks! That is exactly the number I was looking for. I was just
doing a little sanity check. When the OpenDNS contract was announced, OPLIN
stated that the grants/funds it had been providing to individual libraries
only was sufficient to assist 40-50 libraries (
http://www.oplin.lib.oh.us/internet-filtering-service). I'm very much for
central solutions and I'm happy to know that 78 libraries have their
filtering costs completely covered now!

Thanks again everyone!

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*


On Mon, Jul 8, 2013 at 10:46 AM, Jessica D. Dooley <dooleyje at oplin.org>wrote:

> We’ve been very happy with OpenDNS. One nifty administration feature is
> that, as Ken mentioned, you can create a short bypass code that library
> staff can use to turn off filtering for one domain (or all) as needed. The
> nifty thing is that the bypass code is a cookie, so filtering is
> automatically back on after a patron closes their browser session. With
> that in mind, I set up a bypass code in advance that expires in a few
> months, and make it available to staff, so that they are ready to override
> filtering for a patron’s session as needed. They’ve almost never had to use
> it. Every couple of months I receive an email from a patron, generated when
> they visited a blocked domain, requesting the domain be reclassified. The
> only downside is, of course, the domain approach – OpenDNS can’t
> discriminate between naughty and nice videos, images, etc. ****
>
> ** **
>
> Jessica D. Dooley****
>
> IT Specialist****
>
> Adams County Public Library****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org [mailto:
> oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org] *On Behalf Of *Chad Neeper
> *Sent:* Friday, July 05, 2013 6:25 PM
> *To:* OPLINTECH
> *Subject:* [OPLINTECH] OpenDNS****
>
> ** **
>
> Back in May 2012, I looked into OpenDNS as a viable/useful content filter
> compared to dans guardian. (
> http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplintech/2012-May/003567.html). I got
> to thinking about it again today for no particular reason and started
> wondering if anyone is using OpenDNS in their library and if it was working
> decently for them...if they're happy with it, despite its rather
> sledge-hammer like DNS block approach seemingly limiting its usefulness.**
> **
>
> ** **
>
> Secondly, does anyone know if/where I might find stats on exactly how many
> libraries are actually using it under the OPLIN contract?****
>
> ** **
>
> TIA,****
>
> 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*
> ****
>
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