And just to add a few more headaches to one's quiet day, why not set up
network access and then have every silly fool call up for technical support
because they need internet access and can't setup their networking!
If internet acces is so important to the guests, they will already have a
dialup service that they can use by hooking into their modem.
If you must, then for simplicity of setup, consider a wireless access point
instead. You won't have to crawl under floors or through roofs with the
cable and of course won't need to buy cable or connectors or wall sockets!
Most laptops will have wireless networking. Then he won't worry when a
guest wants to borrow a cable to plug into the network and then pack it up
with their PC. More things to steal and/ or be damaged.
He can then make sure that he has a very good firewall on his PC.
Some good points there.
Phillip,
Two additional ideas for internet access - dialup, and wireless.
A few Pros and Cons for each of the three solutions:
Dialup. Use a modem built-in to each computer carried by guest.
Pro: Would not require your uncle's ISP at all.
Oldest, and most common, networking infrastructure.
Each guest would be insulated from each other guest.
Con: Dialup access is slow, would leave your uncle behind in competition.
Requires a modem port or phone line splitter in each room.
If phones are digital, would require an analog line in each room.
Requires a cable strung thru motel room by guest to table.
Wired. Use motel ISP, cabled to each room thru router.
Pro: Fast internet.
Could allow access to shared printer in office.
Most universally used networking infrastructure.
DHCP client over Ethernet is easy to setup.
Easy to control access, if necessary.
Con: Cabling each room could be a lot of work.
Each guest (and your uncle) would be in a network neighborhood with each
other guest.
Might expose your uncle's service to TOS violation.
Requires a cable strung thru motel room by guest to table.
Wireless. Use motel ISP, wirelessly broadcast to each room from router.
Pro: Fast internet.
Could allow access to shared printer in office.
Easy to setup. Just connect wireless router to cable modem.
Most competitive networking infrastructure.
Most convenient for guests when it works.
Requires no cable in motel room - laptop can be used in room, in nearby
coffee shop (if available), etc seamlessly.
Cons: Hard to setup, and maintain, reliably.
Hard to control access, if necessary.
Each guest (and your uncle) would be in a network neighborhood with each
other guest, and with the network neighborhood outside the motel.
Might expose your uncle's service to TOS violation.
Consider the pros and cons, and make your choice.
Regardless of choice, if your uncle uses his office computer to run motel
business, I would absolutely protect it behind a dedicated router. I would not
put a business computer on the same LAN as transient, uncontrolled computers
carried by guests, nor strangers outside control of the motel.
--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.
