Private IP Addressing and Library Consortia

["Richard Bangma" <rbangma@xxxxxxxxxx>]

We at the Pella Public Library are being encouraged to use private static IP
addresses for all our computers, printers, etc. on the network with a single
public static IP address for our router.  We are currently using public
static IP addresses throughout the building.  The Pella Public Library also
shares the Innovative software with Central College and the Innopac server
is physically located at the College.  My concern is when we change to
private IP addressing, the Innopac server may not be able to determine which
computer is which at the Public Library since to my understanding, all
outside communication will go through the single public IP address for our
router.  For any libraries out there who are in a consortia and using
private IP addressing, should I be concerned about the possibility of losing
the ability to have the Innopac server tell the difference between my pc
communicating with the server versus the self-check out station versus the
network printer?  Should I be concerned about possibly losing statistical
information based on specific terminals, or losing some security
functionality through the use of IP addressing for terminal identification?


Thanks



Richard Bangma
Technical Services Librarian
Pella Public Library
603 Main St.
Pella, IA  50219
<mailto:rbangma@xxxxxxxxxx>
tele:  (641) 628-4268
fax:   (641) 628-1735