AOL IP Addresses

So many the same?

[skyeblue]

My logs show many different members logging in with the same AOL IP
address. These addresses were gathered with the $REMOTE_ADDR
environmental variable.

Does AOL have a proxy server that might explain this or are these
really all the same person?

Thanks for any help.

[Mardi_Gras]

Does AOL have a proxy server that might explain this

Yes. And welcome to WebmasterWorld!

[skyeblue]

Thanks. Will X-Forwarded-for help me differentiate them? I mean,
specifically for AOL proxy servers; if anyone has experience with them.

[Bentler]

Here's a good reference for you: [webmaster.info.aol.com...]

[skyeblue]

Thanks! But I guess this is very bad for my site. :(

[Mardi_Gras]

Are you trying to use IP adresses to identify members?

[skyeblue]

No, not really. I was just conducting a check for cheaters and was
able to catch some by IP along with other info, but this AOL thing
kind of complicates things a bit.

[Mardi_Gras]

It really messes up log files - one AOL user who looks at 10 pages might get reported as 10 users who look at one page each. I have no faith in the visitor count and page view numbers I get from my log files for that reason.

<added>That should be page views per visitor numbers</added>

[DreamAddict]

AOL disgust me. After reading the above messages, I'm even more disgusted. Not only is AOL not the internet, but they go and make things more difficult for the "real" internet.

Here is my problem.
I help moderate the English forum on [LD4all.com...] , a lucid dreaming website. We use the PHP based forum "phpBB 2.0.1." This forum has an IP feature that allows the MODS to see what IP a visitor is posting from. It also shows all other IPs a visitor uses and what other users are posting from the same IP.

This helps us identify "multiple personalities," users that stir chaos by "cloaking" themselves as someone else.

We recently decided on our one and only "first ban." This member was banned for reasons other than having "multiple personalities." but we also suspected him of doing this.

However, now we can't distinguish between our legit users and the prohibited user.

We have several options on how to ban the member. We can ban access to his login name/member name, his registered email address, or the somewhat most effective ... their IP address.

We tried to block "205.188.208.41" Which I now learn, from [webmaster.info.aol.com...] , is an AOL proxy server. Darn AOL.

I understand we should unblock this IP to allow AOL users? Is that right?

I'm also sure we can effectivly ban his current membername.

but how can we be sure he's not able to re-register again with another membername and email address?

ALSO! does this AOL proxy junk prevent us from accurately determining "multiple personalities."

Can anyone help or give suggestions?
Thanks so much!

[dhdweb]

Yes to the last question.