Blocking IP addresses

[missspeedy23]

Does anyone know if it's possible to block a specfic IP address from accessing a forum?

The reason I ask is that I'm a member of a parent and baby website and there are some really evil, vindictive people registering just to upset people. They get banned but then just keep re-registering with a different name so we're back to square one.

[richierich07]

the mod of the fourm should stop any new members

close membership for a few days till the idiots give up after a day or so

[ChuckFickens]

Sounds familiar!!

LOL

Anyhow to answer your question, yes it is possible to ban users by IP address but.... 2 main problems

Most internet users have a dynamic IP address, this means that their IP address is assigned to them, when they connect, from a pool of addresses owned by their ISP, so if you ban their IP all they have to do is turn their router off and on again and they get a new IP address.

the other problem that banning IP's can cause is when you are dealing with large companies or universitys where you might have hundreds of people all accessing the net through one common connection, in that situation evey person using that connection would appear to the outside world to have an identical IP address, so if you ban that address you maybe banning several hundred innocent users.

[missspeedy23]

Thanks guys.

I don't think the mods can be @rsed to be honest, it takes them long enough to lock the topics and ban them as it is.

Oh well, looks like we're just going to have to put up with them. They've obviously got nothing better to do than get personal with people and upset them. Grr!!

[ACtheTROLL]

Depends on the server os ... I'm only familiar with MS (and 100s of years ago UNIX) - but this might not apply to some linux boxed (though I doubt it)
you should be able to look at the logs to determine the mac addresses which don't change (unless these people use multiple machines ... then you just do it twice!).

my concern is if it's a discussion group ... in my opinion it's up to a moderator to "set the tone". Free speech always comes at a cost ...

I know some reading this will find it hard to believe - but I have had the odd answer removed 0.002% (no, not as many as I expecter either! ;-) but it's obvious that some have been booted also - and few seem to come back

if the three strikes and you're out rule is applied ... then you boot them .... while there is no guarantee that they won't just create new logons (as you know!) .... the mac option lets you make the decision stick (assuming it's one you can make).

not knowing what exactly ... I'm reluctant to take an opinion - but beware the stepford wives