On July 27, 2004 21:33, Mark Lane wrote: > On July 28, 2004 01:39 am, Martin Glazer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi All, > > > > I'm trying to figure out if any one knows a Linux s/w application or some > > other method of doing the following - > > > > I have a semi-public, controlled, internet access point (ethernet), in > > which anyone can connect their laptop, but what I want to avoid is for > > the person connecting (running Linux/Windows/Mac OS) from having to make > > any changes to their network configuration. ie. if they are running a > > dhcp client on their machine, then I will provide a dynamic address (easy > > enough), but if they already have a static IP, with associated gateway > > and nameserver, then I would still like to allow access for them, even > > though my network is on a completely different subnet, different gateway, > > different nameserver. The connecting laptop could have any IP address and > > I will not know the address or other network information beforehand. > > No you really don't want to do this. If they want to use your service they > need to use DHCP. Not only would allowing there static IPs on your network > be a nightmare to admin, it must certainly violate some RFC. >
I know I shouldn't be doing this and yes, I'm sure it does break some RFC's, but I can see lots of advantages in something like this. Basically it is a kind of plug-and-play for networking. > Besides, most people who are using their laptops for such roaming will > either always be using DHCP or will no how to switch quickly. Windows XP > even allows you to have multiple network configurations setup so it would > just be a matter of switching from the static one to dynamic one. Correct once again, but if it can prevent that support call in the middle of the night for the 1 person who does not know how to setup their laptop (like my wife for example :-)), it would be worth it to me. I have heard of some such devices being used in the hotel industry in order to provide internet access to the hotel rooms, but haven't found anything else. Martin _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca
