Router vs. Proxy server with access restriction for office.

Doc Holliday

Doc Holliday

Adept
Hi guys,

I am looking for a robust solution for a small office, 14 to 20 PCs, all Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7.

I need to access restrictions to web-based e-mail, social networking (especially https facebook and the like), web-based chats, pornography, etc.

Some PCs will need access to e-mail, but not all.

Can this be done via a robust router (thinking of Asus RTN 16 + dd-wrt/tomato? ). Currently office is on WL-250 GU running Tomato. I have a couple of spare Asus RTN 13U at home running dd-wrt.

Or should I get a dedicated PC to do this. If I go the PC route, advantage is that it can double up as a LAN Chat server ( http://lan-chat.srimax.com/ )

Suggestions please.
 
Not sure if you can get full proof solution through router.
I have heard of ipfire ( free ) on a server as one of the best solutions but never went around trying it. Give it a go if you have time or can have someone configure it for you.
 
Since they're only 15-20 computers, where the user probably won't have admin access, you can block facebook, web-mail etc by just pointing them to 127.0.0.1 or any custom page by adding entries to the hosts file.
Not a fool-proof solution, but it's quick and easy.
 
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