Linewize Connect app can use different ways to filter and report on your users' Internet usage and give you access to more Linewize features. Choosing the best Filtering Mode for your school's infrastructure and device types will give you and your users the best experience.
Important
Some Linewize features work only with specific Filtering Modes. If you’re unsure which Filtering Mode to use, contact Linewize Support before making changes to your Filtering Mode.
What are Filtering Modes?
Filtering Modes are the different technologies Linewize Connect uses to filter and report Internet usage. Each Filtering Mode has advantages and disadvantages depending on your school’s infrastructure. If you have a Physical Linewize Filter Appliance, you can configure different Filtering Modes for when a device is connected or not connected to the Linewize Filter network. If your school does not have a Linewize Filter Appliance (your school uses cloud filtering), you can only use one Filtering Mode.
Types of Filtering Modes
DNS Filtering Mode
DNS Filtering Mode is the fastest and simplest filtering option, requiring minimal processor capacity and network bandwidth from user devices. DNS Filtering Mode does not support MITM (Man In The Middle) functionality on Windows and macOS devices.
Connect on DNS Filtering Mode intercepts DNS requests using the loopback address (127.0.0.1) before the device connects to a website. The DNS request is forwarded to a Linewize Cloud DNS filter, where user policies are applied. If content is blocked, the device either loads the allowed requests or displays a DNS Block Page.
Web Filtering Mode
Web Filtering Mode intercepts traffic on specific ports, which will cause a slight traffic increase on your physical network, and uses a moderate amount of the device’s processor. Web Filtering Mode is better suited for Windows and macOS devices as MITM is supported.
In Web Filtering Mode, Connect for Windows uses a packet filter, and Connect for macOS employs a system extension to intercept traffic for websites, application content, and communications across three common ports:
- Port 53: IP and domains that transmit website content
- Port 80: services like VOIP, BitTorrent, remote screen sharing, CDNs, streaming media, gaming services, and web proxies
- Port 443: encrypted data from web-connected applications, forms, and websites using TLS
Companion Filtering Mode (Windows Devices only)
Companion Mode integrates Connect for Windows and Connect browser extension to enhance the filtering and Classroom Management features available to Windows devices.