Hi, What should happen is that the CD-rom portion should have an autorun.inf file pointing at the Launchpad program. If you put the disk in the USB port, it should prompt you to do the autorun stuff, and when you press enter, it will open the launchpad. Unless NVDA is fully U3 aware, you won't be able to use it through the launchpad, and this may not be the best way of doing things. Thanks. Andrew. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of David Mehler Sent: 28 June 2010 08:24 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] u3 smart drive Hello, Thanks. I now have the latest lg installer. It's also the latest firmware, the device is showing up under xp and 7, i see the cdrom portion and the removable drive drives e: and f:. On a non-u3 drive i could put an autorun.inf file on it, which when inserted would pop up a dialog box, hit enter once and the default program, in this case an NVDA screen reader would run. This is not the case with this u3 drive, is there a way for autorun? Thanks. Dave. On 6/25/10, Andrew Hodgson wrote:

Hi,

I had to go through this to get the System Access working on it.

The older Sandisks don't work with Windows 7 as a U3 drive, these were drivers below a specific firmware revision. Actually they did work, just that Windows didn't recognise the CD-rom portion of the drive, so didn't do the autorun thing.

If on the new drive you used the LPInstaller.exe to install the U3 stuff, you need to ensure you are on the latest version of the software by following the article in:

http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3682/sno/0

I had to run the utility several times before I was on the latest version.

Once I was on the latest version I could install stuff no problem to the newer USB flash device.

Thanks. Andrew.

-----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of David Mehler Sent: 25 June 2010 19:25 To: blind-sysadmins Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] u3 smart drive

Hello, I've got a new sandisk u3 smart flash drive. I'm trying to install u3 compatible programs on it, but they're not installing. When i initially plugged in the drive u3 was not on there, i had to download the u3 software, run it and now it's showing up. This drive also came with password encryption, which i'm also not seeing. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks. Dave.

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Hi, Yes, run everything through Launchpad. On my U3 system I have the following on the CD-Rom partition: Volume in drive E is U3 System Volume Serial Number is 52DB-754E Directory of E:\ 10/09/2009 15:44 309 autorun.inf 23/09/2009 11:55 1,373,480 LaunchU3.exe 23/09/2009 14:40 5,776,407 Launchpad.zip 3 File(s) 7,150,196 bytes 0 Dir(s) 0 bytes free

From what I have read these files are put on their by an ISO image, so the dates you have on your drive should match these dates if you are on the correct version. I didn't get my U3 drive until around February this year, and it took me ages to get the installation of the Launchpad done - more often than not the CD-rom partition was blank.

I am using System Access as well, it will go ahead and copy the files over to the drive, but if the Launchpad isn't working, then you won't be able to run it. When you install programs to the U3 drive, they get put on the data partition in a hidden directory called System. In the System directory you have a couple of XML files that tell the U3 launcher what the programs are, then the programs are in directories underneath this. As I said when installing SA Mobile on the drive the first time, the installer created those directories and populated the XML files, but the launcher wasn't there so the software didn't work. Hope this helps. Andrew. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of David Mehler Sent: 28 June 2010 08:36 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] u3 smart drive Hi, Thanks. I don't believe I have an autorun.inf pointing to the launch pad on the cdrom portion of the drive. I don't know if NVDA is u3 aware, but I do know System Access is and has a u3 component. I'll try that and see what happens. My next question, i've installed the u3 version of SecureCRT on the u3 drive, but can't find where it is. Do I have to run everything through launchpad? Thanks. Dave. On 6/28/10, Andrew Hodgson wrote:

Hi,

What should happen is that the CD-rom portion should have an autorun.inf file pointing at the Launchpad program. If you put the disk in the USB port, it should prompt you to do the autorun stuff, and when you press enter, it will open the launchpad. Unless NVDA is fully U3 aware, you won't be able to use it through the launchpad, and this may not be the best way of doing things.

Thanks. Andrew.

-----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of David Mehler Sent: 28 June 2010 08:24 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] u3 smart drive

Hello, Thanks. I now have the latest lg installer. It's also the latest firmware, the device is showing up under xp and 7, i see the cdrom portion and the removable drive drives e: and f:. On a non-u3 drive i could put an autorun.inf file on it, which when inserted would pop up a dialog box, hit enter once and the default program, in this case an NVDA screen reader would run. This is not the case with this u3 drive, is there a way for autorun? Thanks. Dave.

On 6/25/10, Andrew Hodgson wrote:

...

Hi,

I had to go through this to get the System Access working on it.

The older Sandisks don't work with Windows 7 as a U3 drive, these were drivers below a specific firmware revision. Actually they did work, just that Windows didn't recognise the CD-rom portion of the drive, so didn't do the autorun thing.

If on the new drive you used the LPInstaller.exe to install the U3 stuff, you need to ensure you are on the latest version of the software by following the article in:

http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3682/sno/0

I had to run the utility several times before I was on the latest version.

Once I was on the latest version I could install stuff no problem to the newer USB flash device.

Thanks. Andrew.

-----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of David Mehler Sent: 25 June 2010 19:25 To: blind-sysadmins Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] u3 smart drive

Hello, I've got a new sandisk u3 smart flash drive. I'm trying to install u3 compatible programs on it, but they're not installing. When i initially plugged in the drive u3 was not on there, i had to download the u3 software, run it and now it's showing up. This drive also came with password encryption, which i'm also not seeing. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks. Dave.

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www.opendns.com On 7/11/10, Frank Ventura wrote:

Hi all, I have a user that needs to limit internet access to only a few specific sites. There is no budget for this so something like ISA is out of the question. What I did was take out the DNS entries and then added those few sites to the HOSTS file. This worked for a while but they wanted to control the list of sites themselves and no matter how much I tried they weren't comfortable editing the HOSTS file (In Win 7) because the procedure is difficult. You have to run notepad as an administrator and then open the file from within notepad which is a bear to find. With XP I could simply put a shortcut to the HOSTS file on their desktop. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this easier on them? Screen reader friendly is a must. Tia Frank

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Hi, Essentially yes, or you can use fixed IP addresses to identify this if you are on a network. I should point out however that if you are using AD then don't just change the nameservers on the local PC to the OpenDNS ones as it will break AD - the resolvers on a domain joined machine need to have full view of the AD specific SRV records. You can however make the whole company use OpenDNS and point the forwarders on the AD DNS server to the OpenDNS resolvers. Thanks. Andrew. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Frank Ventura Sent: 11 July 2010 22:05 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Thanks, although I am a little confused. If I create an opendns account and set my DNS servers to their IP address of their primary and secondary DNS servers how does OpenDNS know whose account is making the DNS request? Is there a local client that must be installed to identify my account to openDNS so that it can filter the DNS requests? Tia Frank -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Jackie McBride Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 4:45 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites www.opendns.com On 7/11/10, Frank Ventura wrote:

Hi all, I have a user that needs to limit internet access to only a few specific sites. There is no budget for this so something like ISA is out of the question. What I did was take out the DNS entries and then added those few sites to the HOSTS file. This worked for a while but they wanted to control the list of sites themselves and no matter how much I tried they weren't comfortable editing the HOSTS file (In Win 7) because the procedure is difficult. You have to run notepad as an administrator and then open the file from within notepad which is a bear to find. With XP I could simply put a shortcut to the HOSTS file on their desktop. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this easier on them? Screen reader friendly is a must. Tia Frank

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Open DNS uses the origination of the dns request to figure this out. You need fixed IP addressing to make this work I believe. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 2:05 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Thanks, although I am a little confused. If I create an opendns account and set my DNS servers to their IP address of their primary and secondary DNS servers how does OpenDNS know whose account is making the DNS request? Is there a local client that must be installed to identify my account to openDNS so that it can filter the DNS requests? Tia Frank -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Jackie McBride Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 4:45 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites www.opendns.com On 7/11/10, Frank Ventura wrote:

Hi all, I have a user that needs to limit internet access to only a few specific sites. There is no budget for this so something like ISA is out of the question. What I did was take out the DNS entries and then added those few sites to the HOSTS file. This worked for a while but they wanted to control the list of sites themselves and no matter how much I tried they weren't comfortable editing the HOSTS file (In Win 7) because the procedure is difficult. You have to run notepad as an administrator and then open the file from within notepad which is a bear to find. With XP I could simply put a shortcut to the HOSTS file on their desktop. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this easier on them? Screen reader friendly is a must. Tia Frank

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-- Change the world--1 deed at a time Jackie McBride Scripting Classes: http://jawsscripting.lonsdalemedia.org homePage: www.abletec.serverheaven.net For technophobes: www.technophoeb.com _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

So in most cases, the host uses open dns directly as a resolver so you'd simply enter 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 in your dns settings. (or other resolvers if they specify, that's the main public set) I believe (and it's been a long long while) that most of the features are based off static IP but I suspect they have some work around for dynamic I just don't know what that is. The site has very good FAQ files though that should get you boot strapped. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 2:42 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Scott, Andrew and all, OK now I am really confused. They sell a 10 buck per year home/family pack. I would suspect most home users don't use a fixed (static) IP. Also if they are using external IPs for identification then wouldn't that make it impossible to use on a laptop/mobile 'puter? Frankie V. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:31 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Open DNS uses the origination of the dns request to figure this out. You need fixed IP addressing to make this work I believe. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 2:05 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Thanks, although I am a little confused. If I create an opendns account and set my DNS servers to their IP address of their primary and secondary DNS servers how does OpenDNS know whose account is making the DNS request? Is there a local client that must be installed to identify my account to openDNS so that it can filter the DNS requests? Tia Frank -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Jackie McBride Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 4:45 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites www.opendns.com On 7/11/10, Frank Ventura wrote:

Hi all, I have a user that needs to limit internet access to only a few specific sites. There is no budget for this so something like ISA is out of the question. What I did was take out the DNS entries and then added those few sites to the HOSTS file. This worked for a while but they wanted to control the list of sites themselves and no matter how much I tried they weren't comfortable editing the HOSTS file (In Win 7) because the procedure is difficult. You have to run notepad as an administrator and then open the file from within notepad which is a bear to find. With XP I could simply put a shortcut to the HOSTS file on their desktop. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this easier on them? Screen reader friendly is a must. Tia Frank

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-- Change the world--1 deed at a time Jackie McBride Scripting Classes: http://jawsscripting.lonsdalemedia.org homePage: www.abletec.serverheaven.net For technophobes: www.technophoeb.com _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

Scott, appreciate the suggestion but this is for two laptops that roam around the country. This really should be easier, but as the scarecrow used to say "if I only had a brain"; or was that the tin man? Thanks Frankie V. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:33 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Yes buy a low cost router (I know there's no budget but there has to be a little) and use the url filtering features. The D-Link DIR-655 which can be had for sub 100 has this functionality and allows you to build a deny or permit list. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 1:19 PM Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Hi all, I have a user that needs to limit internet access to only a few specific sites. There is no budget for this so something like ISA is out of the question. What I did was take out the DNS entries and then added those few sites to the HOSTS file. This worked for a while but they wanted to control the list of sites themselves and no matter how much I tried they weren't comfortable editing the HOSTS file (In Win 7) because the procedure is difficult. You have to run notepad as an administrator and then open the file from within notepad which is a bear to find. With XP I could simply put a shortcut to the HOSTS file on their desktop. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this easier on them? Screen reader friendly is a must. Tia Frank _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

Hmm, that would work but I know they aren't going to have a PC on all the time at the home office to run as a VPN server. I still like the OpenDNS solution if I can figure out if there is a way to make it work without the use of a static IP. Too bad Vista/Win 7 make it so hard to edit the HOSTS file as that was such an easy elegant solution back when they had XP. Frank -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:47 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites You could trunk the sessions from the mobile laptops back through a VPN (even a free pc based system) and not allow split tunneling so all the traffic is redirected through a central filter. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 2:44 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Scott, appreciate the suggestion but this is for two laptops that roam around the country. This really should be easier, but as the scarecrow used to say "if I only had a brain"; or was that the tin man? Thanks Frankie V. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:33 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Yes buy a low cost router (I know there's no budget but there has to be a little) and use the url filtering features. The D-Link DIR-655 which can be had for sub 100 has this functionality and allows you to build a deny or permit list. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 1:19 PM Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Hi all, I have a user that needs to limit internet access to only a few specific sites. There is no budget for this so something like ISA is out of the question. What I did was take out the DNS entries and then added those few sites to the HOSTS file. This worked for a while but they wanted to control the list of sites themselves and no matter how much I tried they weren't comfortable editing the HOSTS file (In Win 7) because the procedure is difficult. You have to run notepad as an administrator and then open the file from within notepad which is a bear to find. With XP I could simply put a shortcut to the HOSTS file on their desktop. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this easier on them? Screen reader friendly is a must. Tia Frank _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

I actually do that for my own computers but they won't spend the payola to host it on their own computers or pay someone else to host it. Also it wouldn't be easy enough for them to control the whitelist. Good thought though. Thanks Frank -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:59 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites How about spin up your own dns server that you control with the host entries you want. It can be set up as the dns resolver in the laptops in the field and they will only resolve to stuff you have defined. Here you could run the dns server anywhere including on their home machine or in a managed provider like ultra dns or in one of your boxes on the public internet, doesn't matter where. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 2:52 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Hmm, that would work but I know they aren't going to have a PC on all the time at the home office to run as a VPN server. I still like the OpenDNS solution if I can figure out if there is a way to make it work without the use of a static IP. Too bad Vista/Win 7 make it so hard to edit the HOSTS file as that was such an easy elegant solution back when they had XP. Frank -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:47 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites You could trunk the sessions from the mobile laptops back through a VPN (even a free pc based system) and not allow split tunneling so all the traffic is redirected through a central filter. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 2:44 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Scott, appreciate the suggestion but this is for two laptops that roam around the country. This really should be easier, but as the scarecrow used to say "if I only had a brain"; or was that the tin man? Thanks Frankie V. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:33 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Yes buy a low cost router (I know there's no budget but there has to be a little) and use the url filtering features. The D-Link DIR-655 which can be had for sub 100 has this functionality and allows you to build a deny or permit list. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 1:19 PM Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Hi all, I have a user that needs to limit internet access to only a few specific sites. There is no budget for this so something like ISA is out of the question. What I did was take out the DNS entries and then added those few sites to the HOSTS file. This worked for a while but they wanted to control the list of sites themselves and no matter how much I tried they weren't comfortable editing the HOSTS file (In Win 7) because the procedure is difficult. You have to run notepad as an administrator and then open the file from within notepad which is a bear to find. With XP I could simply put a shortcut to the HOSTS file on their desktop. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this easier on them? Screen reader friendly is a must. Tia Frank _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

I actually do that for my own computers but they won't spend the

Yeah baby that's the ticket. Thanks a million Frankie -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Ben Mustill-Rose Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 6:26 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Open dns client to the rescue! http://www.opendns.com/support/article/90 "The site has very good FAQ files though that should get you boot strapped." Only on a sysadmins list. On 11/07/2010, Frank Ventura wrote: payola

to host it on their own computers or pay someone else to host it. Also it wouldn't be easy enough for them to control the whitelist. Good thought though. Thanks Frank

-----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:59 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites

How about spin up your own dns server that you control with the host entries you want. It can be set up as the dns resolver in the laptops in the field and they will only resolve to stuff you have defined. Here you could run the dns server anywhere including on their home machine or in a managed provider like ultra dns or in one of your boxes on the public internet, doesn't matter where.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 2:52 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites

Hmm, that would work but I know they aren't going to have a PC on all the time at the home office to run as a VPN server. I still like the OpenDNS solution if I can figure out if there is a way to make it work without the use of a static IP. Too bad Vista/Win 7 make it so hard to edit the HOSTS file as that was such an easy elegant solution back when they had XP. Frank

-----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:47 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites

You could trunk the sessions from the mobile laptops back through a VPN (even a free pc based system) and not allow split tunneling so all the traffic is redirected through a central filter.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 2:44 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites

Scott, appreciate the suggestion but this is for two laptops that roam around the country. This really should be easier, but as the scarecrow used to say "if I only had a brain"; or was that the tin man? Thanks Frankie V.

-----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:33 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites

Yes buy a low cost router (I know there's no budget but there has to be a little) and use the url filtering features.

The D-Link DIR-655 which can be had for sub 100 has this functionality and allows you to build a deny or permit list.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 1:19 PM Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites

Hi all, I have a user that needs to limit internet access to only a few specific sites. There is no budget for this so something like ISA is out of the question. What I did was take out the DNS entries and then added those few sites to the HOSTS file. This worked for a while but they wanted to control the list of sites themselves and no matter how much I tried they weren't comfortable editing the HOSTS file (In Win 7) because the procedure is difficult. You have to run notepad as an administrator and then open the file from within notepad which is a bear to find. With XP I could simply put a shortcut to the HOSTS file on their desktop. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this easier on them? Screen reader friendly is a must. Tia Frank

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ah, dynamic dns, cool! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 3:21 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Ah, OK here is my answer about OpenDNS, this is from their site and it answers my question: sAlso, don't forget to download the IP Updater client (for Windows and Mac OS X) after you add a network. You only need to download it on your (the account holder) machine, and it will ensure your settings remain in effect if your IP changes. If you have questions as you get started with OpenDNS, check our Getting Started FAQ, or contact our all-star Frank -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:59 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites How about spin up your own dns server that you control with the host entries you want. It can be set up as the dns resolver in the laptops in the field and they will only resolve to stuff you have defined. Here you could run the dns server anywhere including on their home machine or in a managed provider like ultra dns or in one of your boxes on the public internet, doesn't matter where. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 2:52 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Hmm, that would work but I know they aren't going to have a PC on all the time at the home office to run as a VPN server. I still like the OpenDNS solution if I can figure out if there is a way to make it work without the use of a static IP. Too bad Vista/Win 7 make it so hard to edit the HOSTS file as that was such an easy elegant solution back when they had XP. Frank -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:47 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites You could trunk the sessions from the mobile laptops back through a VPN (even a free pc based system) and not allow split tunneling so all the traffic is redirected through a central filter. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 2:44 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Scott, appreciate the suggestion but this is for two laptops that roam around the country. This really should be easier, but as the scarecrow used to say "if I only had a brain"; or was that the tin man? Thanks Frankie V. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Scott Granados Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 5:33 PM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Yes buy a low cost router (I know there's no budget but there has to be a little) and use the url filtering features. The D-Link DIR-655 which can be had for sub 100 has this functionality and allows you to build a deny or permit list. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 1:19 PM Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Hi all, I have a user that needs to limit internet access to only a few specific sites. There is no budget for this so something like ISA is out of the question. What I did was take out the DNS entries and then added those few sites to the HOSTS file. This worked for a while but they wanted to control the list of sites themselves and no matter how much I tried they weren't comfortable editing the HOSTS file (In Win 7) because the procedure is difficult. You have to run notepad as an administrator and then open the file from within notepad which is a bear to find. With XP I could simply put a shortcut to the HOSTS file on their desktop. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this easier on them? Screen reader friendly is a must. Tia Frank _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

Shawn, thanks I initially thought about using the IE permit/deny sites option but then noticed that you can change that even without admin rights. Filtering on the router isn't really an option in this application since these are mobile laptops. I didn't think about using he Win 7 outgoing firewall to filter based upon destination address. I will have to look into that one further to see if it is possible. Thanks Frank -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Sean Murphy Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 7:26 AM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites Frank, What are they using as their router? do they want to block all sites but the ones they want to access? I haven't tried it. But I wonder if Windows firewall could do the trick here? If not, what about the setting in IE and Firefox blocking/permitting sites in the security options? Sean ----- Original Message ----- From: "Frank Ventura" To: "Blind sysadmins list" Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 6:19 AM Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Limiting access to only a few web sites

Hi all, I have a user that needs to limit internet access to only a few specific sites. There is no budget for this so something like ISA is out of the question. What I did was take out the DNS entries and then added those few sites to the HOSTS file. This worked for a while but they wanted to control the list of sites themselves and no matter how much I tried they weren't comfortable editing the HOSTS file (In Win 7) because the procedure is difficult. You have to run notepad as an administrator and then open the file from within notepad which is a bear to find. With XP I could simply put a shortcut to the HOSTS file on their desktop. Does anyone have any suggestions to make this easier on them? Screen reader friendly is a must. Tia Frank

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