[K12OSN] Talking to school about K12LTSP

[David Whitmer]

----- Original Message ----
> From: Rob Owens <hick518 at yahoo.com>
> To: Support list for open source software in schools. <k12osn at redhat.com>
> Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 8:30:09 AM
> Subject: Re: [K12OSN] Talking to school about K12LTSP
> 
> The problem with shutting down eth1 on the server, as
> some have suggested, is that it will cut off internet
> access *and* all other network connectivity such as
> file shares, etc.  This may not be a problem for you
> if your /home folders are not on a central server. 
> 
> You could set up some rules on a school-wide firewall
> that would allow/disallow internet access to certain
> servers, without disrupting network share connections.
 > CensorNet or IPCop have this feature built in (I
> can't remember which, but I tested both and one of
> them had that feature).  
> 
> -Rob
> 

CensorNet (www.censornet.com) definitely has that feature built-in.  Using its web-interface you can configure it to automatically turn off access to the Internet either by username or computer (MAC address).

However, if the students are working on thin clients running off a K12LTSP server, CensorNet I think will only "see" the MAC of the K12LTSP server's external interface.  So you'd need to enable/disable Internet web access by username.

We'll be starting our third year with CensorNet.  It's worked really well for us.

David Whitmer
Calvary Schools of Holland, Michigan