Re: NetReg: clients w/o browsers

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From: Martin German (mgerman@uoguelph.ca)
Date: Mon Mar 17 2003 - 09:57:54 CST


Hello Mike and all,

We've been using a derivative of the NetReg system here at the University
of Guelph since last September, and we are currently in the midst of
assessing a switch to a static-IP assignment implementation of our current
system as well.

We are an institution with approximately 5000 students currently registered
in our ResNet system and, quite conversely, we have found the DHCP system
to be a bit of an "administrative nightmare". We have been using DHCP for
quite a while now, but it is only since September that this (administrative
issue) has been so. The problems we have been having are in fact related to
keeping track of the addresses assigned to each user under DHCP - perhaps
the difference is that most of you out there are not attempting to do so
(to such a level, at least)? The reasons for our tracking of these
addresses are numerous and include everything from simple accounting and
troubleshooting to quota management/enforcement, security/acceptable-use
enforcement, billing and so on. Needless to say, we have found it
imperative in our environment to track IP-MAC registrations at all times,
and this has posed constant and considerable difficulties/efforts
throughout the year - Not only due to the need to track DHCP addresses in
themselves, but due as well to the numerous instances we have found of DHCP
client-server interaction not behaving 'as it should'.

I am about to begin a comprehensive review followed by a design of what
would be required to change our current registration system to a static
assignment-based one, including a full assessment of the anticipated
benefits and possible repuercussions of such a change. However, the
experience which we have gained throughout these two semesters strongly
suggests that a move to a static-IP system will create a substantial
simplification of our current system. Again though, I could not see this
applying at all to others who do not possess the same need for
tracking/accounting of IP assignments that we here do.

- Martin

________________________________________
   Martin German - ext. 52820
     Programmer / Systems Analyst
   Computing & Communications Services
   University of Guelph
________________________________________

Look around you... Everything that you do affects your surroundings, the
natural world around you.

On Sun, 16 Mar 2003 01:07:04 -0500, Michael King <mking@bridgew.edu> wrote:

> MessageBaron,
>
> If you don't mind, why do you want to assign Static addresses to your
> students? I personally see this as an administrative nightmare that,
> that
> quite honestly, defeats the entire purpose of DHCP. I couldn't even
> fathom
> trying to keep track of the address assigned to each student (all 2000 of
> them) never mind the huge rush at the beginning of the semester when they
> all decide within one hour of each other they need there computer
> working.
>
> For your own sanity, I would reconsider. Not that doing it the way I am
> doing it is correct. I know one of the major contributors to NetReg runs
> his dorms all static IP's, and I'm pretty sure Rutgers still runs it's
> ResNet program with all static IP's. (they have around 10,000 residents)
>
> Mike
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Baron M Rawlins [mailto:brawlins@washjeff.edu]
> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 11:04 PM
> To: MKing@bridgew.edu
> Subject: Re: NetReg: clients w/o browsers
>
>
> Mike,
>
> Thanks a million, the code works great!
>
> -Baron
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: King, Michael
> To: 'netreg@southwestern.edu'
> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 2:57 PM
> Subject: RE: NetReg: clients w/o browsers
>
>
> Let's see if this file makes to the list or not. If not I'll put it up
> on a web site.
>
> Standard disclaimer, use at own risk.
>
> No error checking for MAC address being entered, or username. The page
> is very basic.
>
>
> Instructions:
>
> Unzip into a folder.
>
> Put the manualreg.cgi file in your cgi-bin directory. Edit the IP
> address variable to make it correct for your site.
>
> Put the index.html file in a directory that has sufficient protection.
> (passworded directory for example)
> DO NOT Replace your root level index.html with this file. Edit it to
> make it fit your site design.
>
> Mike King
> -----Original Message-----
> From: King, Michael [mailto:MKing@bridgew.edu]
> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 1:41 PM
> To: 'netreg@southwestern.edu'
> Subject: RE: NetReg: clients w/o browsers
>
>
> I have one, and I can make it available.
>
> It's very "Bridgewater State" Centric right now.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Baron M Rawlins [mailto:brawlins@washjeff.edu]
> Sent: Friday, March 14, 2003 12:39 PM
> To: netreg@southwestern.edu
> Subject: NetReg: clients w/o browsers
>
>
> We recently starting using netreg for our wireless network, and it
> is working wonderfully! Many thanks to the developers.
> This summer I plan to migrate our ResNet from M$oft DHCP servers to
> RedHat/ISC DHCP/Netreg boxes.
> I'm curious to see how others are dealing with clients that do not
> have a browser, namely the X-Box and Playstation game consoles.
> Has anyone written a page that asks for name, password, and mac
> address? I'm not a coder, so I can't cook it up myself!
>
> Also, I would like to assign static addresses to our students, not
> just addresses with really long lease durations.
>
> ================================================
> Baron M. Rawlins, CCNA, CCDA, Network+
> Network Services Manager, Washington & Jefferson College
> 60 South Lincoln Street
> Washington, PA
> 724.223.6518 (voice)
>
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