Control My Network

[gary8744]

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for this but here goes........

 

I am looking for a piece of hardware that will control the computers on my network. I would like to be able to set rules based on specific PCs.

 

I would hope to control:

 

What times a PC can access the Internet

If a PC can use IM or other chat programs

Content Filter based on Site name or words found on the site

If a PC can aceess POP3 or SMTP ports for email

If a PC can download files

Keep a PC off the internet but still give access to my LAN resources

etc

 

I need to be able to give different access to different PCs.

 

Does anyone know if this is possible? I know that I can do it with software solutions, but I want to be able to add/delete access rights from a central location.

 

It would also be nice if this came as a good firewall.

 

Of course, I am hoping to get all of this without spending my kids college fund on it.

 

Thanks for any input you might be able to offer.

 

Gary

[cajunman4life]

I know you can do a lot of these things on a Linksys router... do you have one?

[Madmanmcp]

I don't think a single piece of hardware will do all that you ask. But a couple of software solutions will.

 

You can use Windows and set it up with Users required to logon and then set up most of the "rules" in the Administration area.

 

You can also get a program like Net Nanny to control Internet access.

[stevevan]

I would go the software route. When my son was still in the house, I effectively "shut" the door on his all-hours-of-the-day-and-night I AM A SPAMMER site surfing by running everything through a Linux server. It was an old P-100 that served my purpose quite nicely.

 

Just a thought.