Public Ethernet Connections

[Bob Cherry]

This can create a real can of worms from a support perspective.  The reason
is that an Internet/Ethernet connection requires the PC to be configured
with an assigned (fixed) IP address.  Ethernet connections must also be
made to override dialup type connections.  It can be done and knowledgable
folks can do it quickly however, the layperson isn't prepared to handle
netmasks, default routers, static IP addresses, etc.  People will have to
reconfigure their networking to do this and you'll need to insure that each
ethernet address being used is unique.  You may want to look into the
logistics of managing this before you commit to it.

Bob Cherry
Internet Network Consultant


At 09:23 AM 5/28/98 -0700, smarcin wrote:
>        At The New York Public Library Center for the Humanities, we are in 
>     the midst of a major renovation of our Main Reading Room.  When we 
>     reopen, one service that we plan on offering to our readers is the 
>     ability to access the Internet via their own laptops by plugging 
>     into ethernet connections.  Do any of you have experience with this 
>     at your institutions?  Any help in answering any parts of the 
>     following questions would greatly help in planning our patterns of 
>     service in this area.
>     
>     - We would like to know what people have access to:  
>     Can library users simply access the Internet or can they also access 
>     Library databases simply by plugging into the ethernet connection?
>     
>     - What are the hardware requirements
>     
>     - What are the software requirements (do they have to have Windows95 
>     and Netscape installed?)
>     
>     - What are the procedures:
>        Who in the library is responsible for the configuration of the
readers' 
>     machines:  librarian, systems office, paraprofessional, the readers 
>     themselves?
>     Is there access on demand as soon as the reader expresses a desire to 
>     connect, and is the reader's laptop configured while they wait?  
>     Does the reader make an appointment for this service if they need help? 
>     Is there a written statement for service?
>     
>     - Is there a problem with overiding the original configuration of the 
>     library user's laptop when it is configured for the library ethernet 
>     connection?
>     
>     - Do you have STATIC or DYNAMIC IP addresses (meaning is their one 
>     number for each outlet/computer where they plug their laptop in or are 
>     the IPs changing depending on the availability).
>
>