Networking??

hi, i have WRT54G router which i am using for my motel business, so that customer can share my internet for free of charge. is this a good idea or not to let people share my internet. i also need to know what are other secure ways that i can share my internet for my motel business. i also need to know if the person on my network do any illegal stuff on my network then who is responsible for that?

Networking??
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!





There are 2 issues here.





1. Bandwidth (Speed)


If one of your guests decides to download a 2 hour video, you (and your other guests) will suffer terribly slow speed on the internet. (What type of connection do you have?)





2. Legal


If one of your guests decides to send an e-mail stating that they are going to kill someone, or if one of your guests downloads a file that raises the attention of law-enforcement (nuclear bomb technology, child porn, hacking another


computer/network/website, the here is what will happen...


Law enforcement will contact your Internet Service Providor (ISP),your ISP will send them to you, and then you will send them to...???. If you can't provide detailed records as to what room accessed what content on any particular date and time, then, guess what? YOU could go to jail!!! (or at least be made to pay VERY stiff fines.) (I'm talking about possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars!!)
Reply:to be safe and to get the features you're seeking, consider investing in a router that is designed for commercial applications such as those used at various coffee-houses.





d-link has one for about $350. add an access code receipt printer for another $150.





scenario:


guest checks in, receives a receipt w/ an access code.





now you'll know who is logged on, when they logged on and for how long.


include an inexpensive server, you'll then know the where and the what.





do it all before midnight dec. 31, 2006 and take a tax write-off for the hardware, software, labor and ISP fees.





Now thats a win-win situation!
Reply:1. Letting them use it is fine.


2. You need to make sure your router is passworded so they can't mess with the settings.


3. If the person is under 18, you would most likely be resopnsable. If they are over 18, they should be. I am not possitive.
Reply:Do some research on becoming a wireless hotspot. Some companies have franchising options for small businesses. They would provide/support this and take the worry out of your hands.





Now for the poorman's solution: Make sure to get another router (wireless or not) and put that between the shared router and your internet connection. Use that router for your business/personal use. Make sure to secure/encrypt your router and wifi settings and also change the default LAN IP settings. Setup the other router for your customers. Be sure to have antivirus and firewall apps on the business computers and config the firewall apps to specifically block the network address of the customer used router.





The use of two routers gives you the security of making sure that the unprotected network is separate from yours. Routers block "browsing" or broadcast traffic. This is by no means very secure but it adds the basic level of security you will need to avoid having some client cause damage to your business computers inadvertantly or intentionally.





If anything I said is confusing, then seek out a local tech to do this all for you.





I strongly suggest looking for a hotspot dealer. There is alot of liability involved in this from customers trying to hack other customers or someone caught downloading kiddie porn/illegal content from your IP address. Remember you wil lbe the responsible party in any altercation.