Limiting networking

[SaharaWizard]

Hello Guys
I need your opinon about something which I have no clue as how to get started.
I have to write a little application that works like an alarm clock closing and opening network connections.
Say we want the users to have access to network from 8 AM to 10 AM and no networking any other time. How would you go about it?
Thanks in advance.
SaharaWizard

[SaharaWizard]

I think I better add more info:
1. I need a way to schedule computer being part of network.
2. I am hoping to eb able to do this by disabling network card during unwanted times, or something of that nature.
3. If you haev any other ideas let me know.
SW

[k1ll3rdr4g0n]

Is this for a class? If not just setup a proxy, some of the more advanced proxys allow you to set rules for certain days/hours ect.

You could disable the network card (although I don't know how off the top of my head, google the API for it), but then some of the smarter computer people will go "oh, my network card is just disabled. Lemme fix it for them...".

Windows Server may able to do something like this. But, if you want to get down to what it is, I highly doubt you can just disable a network through software (unless it was a virus or something, but just in general). If you understand DHCP and what happens when the DHCP server hands out the addresses, you can probably screw with the gateway address (don't quote me on any of this, as I am not a networking expert). But, I believe the gateway address is where the computer will ask/send for network data (such as internet).

Easiest way: Setup a proxy server, and just 'tunnel' the internet through a dedicated computer proxy (doesn't have to be something special).

[SaharaWizard]

no idea wha you mean by setting a proxy. there are 4 cpmtrs and they all have to run at the same time for eveybody to be able to work.
SW

[k1ll3rdr4g0n]

If you don't know what a proxy is, I suggest you read up on it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_server