Whoever it is that is initiated the search for a solution (I missed the start of the thread), you might want to have a look at this nifty package. Known as connectd/Alt+Connect/wconnect
http://freespace.virgin.net/fuchsia.groan/software/ I used to use it in a flatting situation, I'm pretty sure it supports user authentication to get the net up or to disconnect it, admin override (ie. root), multiple ISPs and one of the niftier things is that it works over a network. There is unix command line client and a windows system tray client, and the unix daemon. When one or more people 'connect' it brings up the link, and then keeps it open until everyone has chosen to 'disconnect'. When I used it I used a very loose config, with no authentication but enabling me to keep the isp passwords secret, but looking at the about page, it can also restrict 'users' by time of day, isp or day of week. So you cant get the flatmates using your account without your sayso, and keep the kids offline during the week, and after 8pm on weekends. Regards, Sascha On Fri, 2003-07-11 at 15:58, Volker Kuhlmann wrote: > > In a family situation the parents definitely want to have some control over > > when their young(-ish) children do the Internet bit. > > Ok, both side are true. In some cases you want only root to start the > dialup, in others you don't. > > > The root via sudo, or making a dialout group, is a very good solution to the > > problem. > > Yes, if you want to restrict *who* is allowed to initiate a connection. > (Resmgr also makes this dependent on where that user's login came from.) > > How does putting your kids into the dialout group control *when* (as you > say) they're allowed to use the internet? > > Volker
