[OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured portals

Tue Feb 24 14:42:13 EST 2015

Certainly a useful stat to have, but unfortunately, it appears to put yet
another financial burden on small libraries that don't have a capable IT
person on staff to devise a method to reliably collect it. (Well, that
could be a good thing for me, I suppose!)

So if collecting this stat is really a Thing, does anyone (Steve?) know
where I can go to get a little more official information on it? If it's
going to be a federal requirement, then it would be nice to see the
line-item that mentions it to try to discern what info is to be reported:
 ie.  "human-initiated" or "device-initiated" connections. It would
probably have an impact on the methods we use to collect the stat.

Chad
______________________________
*Chad Neeper*
Senior Systems Engineer

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

*Full IT/Computer consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and
schools*

On Tue, Feb 24, 2015 at 9:30 AM, Stephen Hedges <hedgesst at oplin.org> wrote:

> OPLIN making Wi-Fi stats mandatory?
>
> Nah, this is part of the stats the State Library collects every year.
> Although I'll admit, that will be an extremely useful stat to have.
>
> As I understand it, this stat will be a federal requirement next year
> (most of the stats the State Library collects fulfill federal
> requirements), and SLO is asking for the stat this year to work out some
> kinks before the federal requirement kicks in. If that's correct, it sounds
> like a wise plan to me.
>
> Stephen
> --
> Stephen Hedges, Director
> Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)
> 2323 W. Fifth Ave., Suite 130, Columbus, OH 43204
> 614-728-5250  ::  hedgesst at oplin.org
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Ruchie Rice" <rrice at fcdlibrary.org>
> > To: "OPLINTECH" <OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org>
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 9:15:17 AM
> > Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured
> portals
> >
> >
> >
> > I hadn’t heard of OPLIN making wi-fi stats mandatory. We used to use
> > Bluesocket which used to give us stats but we did away with it a couple
> of
> > years ago because the splash page was not working well with some devices.
> > We’d like to keep it that way. Also, we have nine wireless APs among 5
> > locations and would hate to have to spend money to get stats. If we could
> > use a DHCP solution that would work better for us.
> >
> >
> >
> > Also, since it is library using resources I agree that human and
> non-human
> > connections should count.
> >
> >
> >
> > Ruchie
> >
> > Information Technology Coordinator
> >
> > Fairfield County District Library
> >
> > 219 N. Broad St.
> >
> > Lancaster, OH 43130
> >
> >
> >
> > https://helpdesk.clcohio.org/
> >
> >
> >
> > “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working
> > together is success” – Henry Ford
> >
> >
> >
> > From: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org
> > [mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org] On Behalf Of Chad Neeper
> > Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 3:52 PM
> > To: OPLINTECH
> > Subject: [OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured
> portals
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hello, OPLINTECH:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I've been hearing from some of my libraries that they're now going to be
> > required to annually report WiFi connection statistics starting with
> 2015.
> > Presently, other than one rogue, none of my libraries collect those
> stats.
> > Being small libraries with only one or two very simple access points, I'm
> > pretty sure that most of the devices they're using simply don't provide
> > stats on the number of individual network connections. One way to provide
> > the statistic would be to implement captive portals and require a human
> to
> > click "I accept" to an Acceptable Use Policy on a splash page whenever
> they
> > try to initiate a browsing session. The captive portal would likely
> provide
> > the required statistics. But it introduced some other questions:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 1) The state wants the number of WiFi connections....Are those supposed
> to be
> > Human-initiated connections? When I walk into a library, my phone
> > automatically establishes a connection and refreshes itself with various
> > content, downloading my latest podcasts, synching my e-mail, etc. That's
> the
> > behavior I want my phone to do, but I often don't want to open a browser
> > session and actually browse to a website on my phone. Sometimes I do, but
> > more often, I don't. So should those automatic connections count in the
> > stats? If so, then every single patron with a smart phone will likely get
> > counted, even if they're just driving by the library and come into range
> for
> > a few seconds.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 2) If the state is only interested in the Human initiated connections,
> then
> > that would pretty much mandate a captured portal and require the click
> on "I
> > accept" before a session is permitted. Personally, I hate WiFi hotspots
> like
> > that because it interferes with the normal operation of my wireless
> device.
> > I also hate being forced to remember to open a browser and perform an
> action
> > after I've tried to figure out for a few moments why my device isn't
> > connected properly. In the past, I've even run into locations that for
> > whatever reason the captive portal doesn't play nicely with my wireless
> > device and I'm just SoL.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 3) If I need to set up captive portals at each of my small libraries to
> > report this stat, should I bill the state directly? My libraries are
> already
> > pretty strapped. ;-)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > 4) Does anyone collect this stat using software that isn't built into
> their
> > wireless access points and isn't a full "I accept" human-interaction
> > required captive portal?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Ideally, I'd have something that's:
> >
> >
> > - 3rd party software only solution independent of any particular vendor's
> > access points
> >
> >
> > - Open source
> >
> >
> > - Simple/turn-key (translates to cheap to implement for my small
> libraries)
> >
> >
> > - Doesn't prevent the normal background function of wifi devices when a
> human
> > doesn't specifically want to use their browser
> >
> >
> > - Collects the number of wifi connections that's either human-initiated
> or
> > automatic, depending on which stat the state actually wants to know
> > (assuming the state even knows the difference)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I know people will probably reply with the names of their own captive
> portals
> > or access point manufacturers/models that provide the stats. What are
> others
> > planning to do now that this particular stat appears to be more required
> and
> > what type of stats you're providing or plan to provide (all connections,
> > human-only, whatever)? As much as that, I'm just kind of curious where/if
> > this conversation thread goes.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Any comments or thoughts on this?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> >
> > Chad
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________
> > Chad Neeper
> > Senior Systems Engineer
> >
> > Level 9 Networks
> > 740-548-8070 (voice)
> > 866-214-6607 (fax)
> >
> > Full IT/Computer consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and
> schools
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > OPLINTECH mailing list
> > OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org
> > http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech
> >
> >
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>
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