Open DNS

[Geek_of_HeathMount]

All I'm considering using Open DNS as our school web filter. Does anybody have any experience using this.?

[ShorehamGeek]

I've found it pretty good. Not really suitable as the only web filter. It filters all DNS requests from your school IP - and doesn't allow you to set different access for different groups (e.g. staff / pupils). Also - be aware that if you don't have a static IP address you need to check that you have updated your OpenDNS account with your new IP if it changes.

[Geek_of_HeathMount]

Are you using the basic offering or the enterpise ?

[ShorehamGeek]

Basic.

[bio]

We are using it a few years now (basic). untill now only positive things to say. its fast, reliable and very easy to configure. And it takes the load off our isa server since domain checking is done on DNS level

bio..

[mac_shinobi]

I've found it pretty good. Not really suitable as the only web filter. It filters all DNS requests from your school IP - and doesn't allow you to set different access for different groups (e.g. staff / pupils). Also - be aware that if you don't have a static IP address you need to check that you have updated your OpenDNS account with your new IP if it changes.

Could you not use open dns in conjunction with dyn dns ?

[painejake]

Or even use their client side software for users with dynamic IP addresses

OpenDNS > Support > Knowledge Base > Client software for updating a dynamic IP in an OpenDNS network

[tom_newton]

Could you not use open dns in conjunction with dyn dns ?

It's the same deal - with dyndns you have to notify the service you have changed your IP with some sort of tool. I imagine it would be trivial to write such a tool to log into OpenDNS and alter your records.

Worth noting that OpenDNS is not web filtering - users accessing bare IPs won't be logged or filtered, and if you are using a cache between you and the Internet at any stage you may find minor issues with users acessing cached content. The first of these issues can be mitigated by using a rule to block connections to bare IPs, but this needs to be done at layer 7 - squid or similar.

[Obiwan]

I am recommending that one of our special schools use OpenDNS for a small offsite provision site with three computers. I see that Netgear now feature 'Live Parental Controls (LPC)' on some of there routers which uses OpenDNS. Has anyone used one yet?

On a linked note if there are any suppliers reading who could supply a Netgear DGN1000 to a school via a purchase order it would be most appreciated. (they don't have a procurement/credit card)

I thought there used to be a place for supplier requests on the forums? I may be being blind.