P1_BEN

All, I've been asked if I can help someone prevent people accessing certain sites between specific times, all I know at the moment is its an all mac environment running OS x 10.something.

Anyone implemented anything like this?

No idea on network equipment or tools at the moment...

Thanks

JackClark

OSX has Parental controls that can block web sites. Or you could use OpenDNS.org

P1_BEN

I checked out Parental controls but only allows complete blocking of a site rather than on a time based method. Anyone know of any software that I might be able to install, no idea if they even have admin rights off or on yet...

I get the feeling this might take a bit more time than I first thought...

darlodge

Hi Ben,

There is software and hardware on the market made for this very purpose. Did you have a budget? What do they want you to be able to do? reporting, selective website and user account blocking, block by website category(Adult, gambling, news etc.)?

Most software packages and appliances have the option to use a database of categorised websites so you just block webmail and then any web based e-mail website is blocked. It costs to use the database but its better than you having to add the websites manually when you spot them, It's amazing how many web e-mail websites there are!

The more features you want the higher the cost



Darren

Markus

Hi Ben,
Alas Parental Controls won't help much, as has been said, and you've seen, the time limits are for computer usage and not specific application usage. Also the interface for restricting web sites is somewhat simplistic.

You could have a look at NetNanny and see if it would do what you want. It was the first name of an app that popped into my head, though I've never used it. It looks like it allows for time based access as well.

P1_BEN

Just been to the office where they want to implement this, and based on the conversation it seems that setting up a squid proxy server would be the best solution, they went 10gb over the download limit and were charged 300 pounds so would help towards this as well.

Challenges, they all have admin rights on the machines they use,
Only facebook to be blocked at the moment rather than a selection of sites and he wants them to be able to access at certain times ie lunch out of hours...

Anyone any experience of setting one of these up?

Markus

Do they need to have admin rights? If they don't, then what I'd suggest is that you create another admin level account on the machines, then edit the original account and remove the administrator ability from it, thus turning it into a standard user.

P1_BEN

Hi Markus - I did ask this question so will see what they come back with as this would also prevent them modifying proxy server configuration etc...