Help with Internet sharing at a business...

[CBurcik]

Hoping for some help.

I need a product/solution that will allow customers to use our T-1 connection in our waiting room. (Car Dealership)

Should clarify, I know how to enable them to use our connection but want to do so in a way that will protect our network and limit our liability.

Would prefer to offer wired and wireless access. I recall a wireless access point that was on the market a few years ago that was for this purpose. It allowed you to hand out passcodes for access.

Thanks in advance,

Chris

[ErikD]

Is this the same T1 that you use for your business network? Or is it a seperate one just for customer web browsing?

What kind of equipment are you using for the network, routers, switches? Brands, models and any WIC or other added in cards would be great.

If this is the same T1 that runs your business I wouldn't recommend it at all. A single T1 isn't all that much bandwidth, and you would be suprised how quckly it will start to slow down and peak out once you start sharig it between many users. Also if not setup properly it could potentially allow unautoherized users into the company network, not a good thing.

The best way to set it up though would be to ceate seperate VLANs for each network and use ACLs to prevent any traffic from crossing over the VLAN that you don't want to. So for example you could setup one VLAN for business and one for customers. Then just put the gateway in the business VLAN and create an ACL which allows traffic from any IP to get to the gateway router only.

As for wired you would probably need to get an electrician in there to pull all of th wire and make all of the connections for you. Wireless would be easy enough with a access point or two, dependning on coverage.

[YeOldeStonecat]

I'd use VLANs...separate the "public" PCs from your business PCs.
There are also wireless access points these days that will run multile SSIDs if you wish..and can VLAN those also.

However...your T-1...are you part of the GMAC WAN? Or is it your own T-1? Assuming a secured T-1 to get access to something like GMACs secure intranet for dealerships. In which case...as Erik mentioned above ...a T-1 isn't much bandwidth, one or two peeps using it in your waiting room could easily suck it up and make things painfully slow for your staff to do their job.

Might consider dropping a separate DSL line in for public use...cheap enough these days.