MWeb Business Website Blocking

[Dean]

UPDATE

Contact made!
Just got a call from a very helpful Mweb tech who is tasked with handling it. Looking forward to positive feedback from our client this afternoon.

 

[MWEBHelp]

UPDATE

Contact made!
Just got a call from a very helpful Mweb tech who is tasked with handling it. Looking forward to positive feedback from our client this afternoon.

Hi Dean

Thank you for the update.

Kind regards
MWEB Operations

 

[Will@MWEB]

Howzit Will

Thanks for the advice - it's a solid plan, however I don't believe the client would like to spend more on the job right now - if they'd like monitoring/reporting in future, I'm sure it can be just as easily unblocked on router as it is to block, and configured through a manageable interface. The company really has no interest in managing users activity, they've just noticed Facebook creeping up a bit too often, and feel the need to curb it (even though on a personal level, they don't even want to). This is only for 3-4 users on an uncapped account, so this seems like the quickest and simplest option for at-work-only facebook blocking on those laptops.
(unless the ISP takes 3 days to get the ball rolling...)

Forwarded the clients details via PM yesterday - which were aparently "incorrect on the system" (MWeb has gotten ahold of them at least twice before from those details, so I don't follow, but anyway...) and I sent my mobile number through last night after having given it to the business helpdesk consultant on Monday.
Looking forward to some progress today...

Thanks for getting involved Will - things always seem to happen quicker once you're around.

No problem Dean, please let me know if you're not happy with the final solution

 

[Dean]

No problem Dean, please let me know if you're not happy with the final solution

Just received an email from RH to say it's been done, which I forwarded on to the client.
So assuming all's in order, everything should be good.

Shot

 

[Dean]

Howzit Will
Unfortunately the solution did not work.
I have since been testing the OpenDNS service (blocking FB on the dashboard) at my office, and that seems to work perfectly. I proposed this to RH although his reponse was that a Cisco Engineer there told him it's not possible.
I, however, fail to understand how that's the case if my little D-Link 2640U can handle it without any problems.
I've been on the line to MWeb Business helpdesk for 23 minutes and counting, holding for RH or any Cisco Engineer... hopefully this will be resolved shortly as it's now been over a week since the initial call.
With thanks
Dean

 

[PsyWulf]

Howzit Will
Unfortunately the solution did not work.
I have since been testing the OpenDNS service (blocking FB on the dashboard) at my office, and that seems to work perfectly. I proposed this to RH although his reponse was that a Cisco Engineer there told him it's not possible.
I, however, fail to understand how that's the case if my little D-Link 2640U can handle it without any problems.
I've been on the line to MWeb Business helpdesk for 23 minutes and counting, holding for RH or any Cisco Engineer... hopefully this will be resolved shortly as it's now been over a week since the initial call.
With thanks
Dean

Are the PCs on your network fixed or dynamic IPs,if dynamic - how are they assigned

OpenDNS would be the simplest solution and depending on how the network runs you could have the DHCP device propagate the OpenDNS dns entries,or manually assign it to all the PCs

 

[Dean]

Are the PCs on your network fixed or dynamic IPs,if dynamic - how are they assigned

PCs should be set with the Cisco router as gateway and DNS. I assume by setting the DNS servers in the Cisco to the OpenDNS servers, it should all work flawlessly (as it does in my office with the 2640U).

 

[PsyWulf]

PCs should be set with the Cisco router as gateway and DNS. I assume by setting the DNS servers in the Cisco to the OpenDNS servers, it should all work flawlessly (as it does in my office with the 2640U).

Bingo,however if you're using a DHCP device you could bypass asking them to config anything and just set the DNS records yourself

 

[nahoR]

If the people can google, they will surely come up with something like hidemyass.com

Had the same problem in an office, but I had to block skype aswell, which is really nasty. Havent used the cisco router, only mikrotik.

I know IpCop has an extension which can block proxies, gambling, pr0n etc...

 

[Dean]

Bingo,however if you're using a DHCP device you could bypass asking them to config anything and just set the DNS records yourself

Errr, ja I meant the Cisco router is the DHCP server.

Peeps thanks for all the advice, but I've found a working solution - the problem is now to get MWeb to change the router from using their own DNS servers to the OpenDNS servers... that's pretty much it

 

[PsyWulf]

Errr, ja I meant the Cisco router is the DHCP server.

Ouch that's a bit naff

 

[Will@MWEB]

Howzit Will
Unfortunately the solution did not work.
I have since been testing the OpenDNS service (blocking FB on the dashboard) at my office, and that seems to work perfectly. I proposed this to RH although his reponse was that a Cisco Engineer there told him it's not possible.
I, however, fail to understand how that's the case if my little D-Link 2640U can handle it without any problems.
I've been on the line to MWeb Business helpdesk for 23 minutes and counting, holding for RH or any Cisco Engineer... hopefully this will be resolved shortly as it's now been over a week since the initial call.
With thanks
Dean

Hi Dean

I haven't used the opendns service myself, however I just had a quick look at their site and the concept seems fairly straight forward, I will make contact with them tomorrow and see if we can convince them to allow you to implement this.

 

[Dean]

Hi Dean

I haven't used the opendns service myself, however I just had a quick look at their site and the concept seems fairly straight forward, I will make contact with them tomorrow and see if we can convince them to allow you to implement this.

Howzit Will

Not sure who you're referring to about making contact..
although I (after a few calls today) spoke to a helpful Cisco engineer who changed the DNS servers in the router.
I'll test tomorrow at the client and update.

With thanks
Dean

 

[tortured]

If the people can google, they will surely come up with something like hidemyass.com

Had the same problem in an office, but I had to block skype aswell, which is really nasty. Havent used the cisco router, only mikrotik.

I know IpCop has an extension which can block proxies, gambling, pr0n etc...

Opendns takes care of these as well.