cwgee9801-RR wrote:

I'm trying to find a solution for kids PC online use without constant monitoring and arguing. So I'm considering implementing a "cyber cafe" accounting system at home to regulate my two kids online access. They think it is a terrible idea. I think it is a good one. Ideally, the software would allow me to credit them with xx hours per week, and they could have their online use within other restrictions ... no more than x hours in any one day, no more than one hour without a one hour "break", no use after 9:00pm and so on. They would know their limits and could pace their own use accordingly.

Sounds like a job for a linux router that controls the WAP. (Note: The PC they use already runs a kid filter and keystroke monitor that I personally review, often. The PC has a nice video card and runs WinXP, as almost all their games run under Windows.

I'm checking Sourceforge for suitable software and a reasonable hardware configuration. Trying to see if this is practical. Any experience or comments invited.

I know I talk about IPCop quite a bit, but it does this mostly. You can set the hours of usage in the Squid proxy, meaning the time frame of allowed use. To get the hour on, hour off, you need some accounting software. You can also add Dan's Guardian for filtering.

---------------------------------------------- Somewhere there is a village missing an idiot.