IP addresses & firewalls

[Patricia Fortin]

Hi All ... Our i.t. dept. manages the systems for 2 institutions and they
have allocated 1 IP address for both institutions to access the internet
through the same firewall, with the default being the other institution.
They are telling us that for "security reasons" only one IP address is known
on the internet.  We are running into a  problem with some of our electronic
subscriptions in that they will not allow us electronic access via IP as it
points to the other institution (we are 2 separate libraries). They are
refusing to have a different IP address for the other institution (or our
institution).  We anticipate that this could become a major issue with all
our subscriptions.  We use a Raptor Eagle NT firewall v.5.02.  I was hoping
that someone could advise me if it would be a "security problem" to issue a
2nd IP address for our institution, and if this would require much
reconfiguration of the firewall/server?  Also, I was wondering if it would
be difficult to change the default?  We do not have the staffing to manage
userid's & passwords, and some of our subscriptions can only be accessed via
IP address.  My sense is that assigning a 2nd IP address, or changing the
default should not be a problem, but I do not have the technical knowledge
to prove this.  Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for any assistance,  Patricia.


Patricia Fortin, Manager
Library Services
BCMHS/Riverview Hospital
500 Lougheed Hwy.
Port Coquitlam, B.C.
V3C 4J2
p. (604)524-7018
f. (604)524-7021