Update Needed: When will members authenticate with LDS Accounts?

Discussions about Internet service providers (ISPs), the Meetinghouse Firewall, wired and wireless networking, usage, management, and support of Meetinghouse Internet
KeithWilson
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Update Needed: When will members authenticate with LDS Accounts?

#1

Post by KeithWilson »

In an article posted here, we see the statement made:

"In 2012, members and leaders around the world will be able to connect to meetinghouse Internet via their LDS Account, making it much easier for them to gain access to online Church resources in ward and stake buildings. Personalized access through an LDS Account will also help increase individual accountability for how the Internet is used."

It might be just me, but I don't see this happening in 2012, in fact I live in Utah, and don't know of any stake buildings that use the LDS Account authentication, yet most I have seen have "free access to all" using the LDSAccess and the password distributed by the GSD.

It's clear to me based on my own experience, and the experience I have seen throughout the forums that STS need the ability to disable wireless access to all, for specific events. Mainly because when you have a building with thousands of members in attendance, and most of them connect with their WiFi device, it makes the Internet unuseable for all. (of course they connect either knowing or not knowing they are even connected).

Can we get a realistic update on the rollout of the new firewalls and LDS Authentication?

In our stake, to avoid too many people knowing the wireless password, we will move to the LDSAccess when LDS Account Authentication happens, even then, I recommend a quick easy way to disable wireless access to all (unscrewing firewall antennas doesn't seem like a good solution to me, maybe Im the only one).

Our stake changes the wireless password every 6 months, and it's all distributed by Bishops, and this avoids unauthorized access, or unnecessary access, clogging up the wireless access points.

Thanks!
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aebrown
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#2

Post by aebrown »

This same question was raised a few days ago in this post.
Questions that can benefit the larger community should be asked in a public forum, not a private message.
KeithWilson
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Location: Utah County, USA

#3

Post by KeithWilson »

And this subject has been discussed on these forums all year. Maybe if we had an official response, we could better plan for future deployments.
lajackson
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#4

Post by lajackson »

KeithWilson wrote:And this subject has been discussed on these forums all year. Maybe if we had an official response, we could better plan for future deployments.

Oh, it has been discussed even longer than that. And we would all like to see it happen.

I doubt there will be an "official response". We know headquarters wants it. We know they are working on it. There is still plenty of time left in 2012 for it to become a reality this year. And, with ever changing priorities, it may not happen until next. Funny thing I have noticed is that the Church very rarely specifies exact dates when something will happen.

I am not quite sure what planning would be necessary. If your FM group has 881Ws and Access Points in all the buildings, you are good to go when it happens.

Members should already have LDS Account logins. And if they don't, they will simply find out one day that their procrastination will need to come to an end if they want to play on the WiFi at church.

That's about all the planning there is to do at this point, as I see it.
KeithWilson
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#5

Post by KeithWilson »

I think we will all hurry up and wait. Thanks for your response.

One of our decisions has been to change our network ID and Password to the universal, that almost every other building has. (new hardware or not). Now, we don't have the 881Ws and WEPs yet, so the GSD told us to continue to NOT use the LDSAccess and it's corresponding password. We will comply as instructed. Thanks for the responses. It's wonderful to know the work of the Lord is blessed with modern technology, and so many are willing to lend their efforts to the Lords purposes.
KeithWilson
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#6

Post by KeithWilson »

I found some information that seems to answer my own question. The requirement to move to the new firewalls isn't until the end of 2013.

Some newer information I just discovered here. This is the first time I have seen this delay to the end of 2013.

Older meetinghouse firewalls, such as the Cisco ASA 5505 and PIX 501, are approved for use in meetinghouses until the end of 2013. No meetinghouses should be using these firewalls after 2013. They can no longer be ordered through Church distribution. If a meetinghouse has an older meetinghouse firewall, the technology specialist should notify the facility management group so they can budget for and schedule a replacement before the end of 2013.
john84601
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#7

Post by john84601 »

Has anyone heard the details of how access might be restriced (beyond the firewall)? I'm wondering if internet access can be restricted by something like calling, etc.?

The reason I ask is that in 3 out of 5 of our buildings are rural and get very "slow" service from their ISP. I would almost object to installing WiFi if I couldn't manage who had access. It could very easily "swamp" our internet connection... and then nobody could get anything done.

Thoughts?

JW
scgallafent
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#8

Post by scgallafent »

lajackson wrote:Funny thing I have noticed is that the Church very rarely specifies exact dates when something will happen.

I got cured of that long ago.

About ten years ago I was working with a company that was close to a new update of their IDE. I had a conversation with the company president and it was about two days from the ship date. Things were far enough along that there wasn't concern about the date slipping.

Someone asked about the release and I mentioned that it was expected on date x. At 6:00am he started calling the corporate office and posted a message on their forums a few minutes later that it was date x and he didn't see the promised update.

I'm a little more cautious with public discussion of release dates.

Given that experience, it doesn't surprise me that the Church very rarely specifies an exact date.
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johnshaw
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#9

Post by johnshaw »

There is a bit of a difference between specifying a release date, and sharing priorities or roadmaps. Like you I'm in this world and when a roadmap is published it helps me see where the direction is going, how I can incorporate what is being worked on in my environment, planning for its use. In each unit I've been involved with, we typically plan the year well in advance, set dates, establish patterns for FamilySearch training, Sunday School, Auxiliary training, etc.. I could care less about the actual Date it is published, because there are too many variables involved.

Maybe because of the size of my company I'm a bit spoiled, but NDA discussions happen all the time with HP, EMC, Microsoft, VMware, etc... We are let in on a bit of the secret because we are seen as VALUED PARTNERS in the process. In my opinion we are really falling short as a community in this area.

btw... gallafent, did you serve a mission in Toronto?
“A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom.”
― Thomas Paine, Common Sense
printbr
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LDS Account login

#10

Post by printbr »

I am not sure why everyone is so excited about LDS account login for WiFi in the buildings. everyone will know their login id and password. How is that any different than knowing the current password? And if we somehow have the ability to limit access to certain people, who is going to determine who gets what access, and then who will actually administer that. We have 5,400 people in our stake. I know I don't want to administer that.
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