Junee Shire Library is a regional library in country NSW, Australia. Recently they have relocated to a new building, which necessitated a revamp of the entire network setup. Library management also saw this as an opportunity to provide a more secure and reliable service.
Customer Requirements
The library network was previously unrestricted, allowing anyone and everyone to access the Internet. This caused a problem during peak periods as the connection was shared between all computers. In the new location, the library wanted to allow public access for users with laptops and also restrict their usage time and logon hours. The library also required a content filter to prevent users from accessing specific websites. An ongoing issue at the library has been maintaining the public access computers, and with IT support two hours drive away, the need for a secure remote access solution was apparent.
Planning Steps
After a successful Endian install at the Council Chambers, the Library decided to follow suit. The Endian Mini will provide access for 6 public computers, 2 staff PCs and a wireless access point. It also allows for secure remote access using OpenVPN. Traffic prioritisation will be applied to all PC’s and will give staff precedence over other network devised. Firewall features will also be utilised to reduce the risks of external threats and also restrict internal access.
Implementation Steps and Issues
The Endian set up was fast and trouble-free. A content filter was enabled based on the scoring system and has proven to be effective. A wireless hotspot was also set up to allow users to connect using a laptop. Originally this was set up as an open wireless network, but this soon became a problem as many users did not ask permission to use the wireless network. The hotspot feature was then implemented with the quick ticket feature to allow staff to quickly and easily create a one hour ticket valid for a maximum of one day. Traffic prioritisation has also been implemented to give staff PC’s higher priority when using the internet. The remote access solution using OpenVPN has been a massive success allowing IT support to connect over a secure channel to provide live IT support. It has also been used to allow other external companies temporary access to maintain the specialised software running on a PC at the library.
Results
Junee library has achieved the goal of creating a secure and reliable network. The Endian has simplified the process for the staff who use it and the technicians that support it. Not only does it meet its intended purpose, it also looks good!
