[OPLINTECH] Internet Content Filter Evaluations

[Kevin Puffer]

Chris

Feature for feature, reliability, security and "undefeatability" (is that a
word?), granularity, service and support, and just about any other criteria
(except of course cost) nothing beats Websense.
It may be your most expensive option, but you get what you pay for (IMHO).

In Wood County, all the libraries cooperate and use a single instance of
Websense. Each Library (local network) has a small server that runs two
small services. I maintain a central server and a database that handles
everyone's specific policies and collects traffic data for reporting and
troubleshooting. The small local server at each individual library
maintains a copy of the web site category database and also handles all the
local network packet sniffing, policy checking, filtering, and redirection
if necessary. They constantly update any policy changes with the main
policy server. Libraries with a technical staff can manage their own small
local servers and even their own policy changes if they want. Libraries
with limited or no IT Staff simply make a policy change request and I take
care of it for them. 99.9% of the year no policy changes are necessary and
the system runs rock-solid.

It may be an option for you to involve other libraries to help offset the
cost of the licenses and support.

It's just another idea in the mix.

KP


On Fri, Oct 2, 2015 at 2:09 PM, Whetsel, Shawn <swhetsel at akronlibrary.org>
wrote:

> Yes if you NAT/PAT your DNS traffic from those networks out different
> IP's. We do this to get stats on the  blocks for WiFi vs Pub vs Staff
> networks.
>
> Shawn Whetsel
> Information Technology Manager
>
> Phone: 330-643-9161
> E-mail: swhetsel at akronlibrary.org
> Information Technology
> 60 S. High St.
> Akron, OH 44326
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org [mailto:
> oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org] On Behalf Of Tyra Ealy
> Sent: Friday, October 02, 2015 2:07 PM
> To: OPLINTECH <OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org>
> Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Internet Content Filter Evaluations
>
> Is it possible to have different blocking configurations with OPLIN's
> solution?  Adult / Children /Staff?
>
> Tyra L. Ealy
> Information Technology Manager
> Warren-Trumbull County Public Library
> (330) 399-8807, ext. 140
> http://www.wtcpl.org
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org [mailto:
> oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org] On Behalf Of Owen Leonard
> Sent: Friday, October 02, 2015 2:04 PM
> To: OPLINTECH
> Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Internet Content Filter Evaluations
>
> > Free + OPLIN = Me Happy
>
> Here too. The few times OpenDNS has incorrectly blocked something it has
> been easy to whitelist the URL
>
> I suppose their community-supported domain tagging system must work pretty
> well considering the vast number of web sites, but a couple of times I've
> run across something which was wrongly categorized and my attempts to use
> their system to request a review has been ineffective.
> (the Diesel Sweeties web comic is not pornography, seriously:
> https://domain.opendns.com/dieselsweeties.com).
>
> My other beef with OpenDNS is that they don't provide any information
> about how, why, or when a site was identified as a malware site. A few
> times someone has requested that a site identified by OpenDNS as malware be
> unblocked. I wish I had more information to provide the user about why I
> can't do it.
>
> Those are pretty minor complaints in the grand scheme of things though.
>
>   -- Owen
>
> --
> Web Developer
> Athens County Public Libraries
> http://www.myacpl.org
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-- 
  *Kevin Puffer*
*Systems Administrator*

*Wood County District Public Library*
*251 N. Main St. Bowling Green, OH 43402*
*(419)** 352-5104   -  kpuffer at wcdpl.org <kpuffer at wcdpl.org>*
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