Thread:Project:Support desk/Allowing select users and addresses access to the website and blocking others

Hello --

I have successfully implemented our server, and have begun adding users to the site. The server will be situated behind the company firewall' with exceptions to allow http and https access from the Internet. One of the requirements that has been brought up is the following:

Is there a way to allow a select group of users and ip address ranges access to the site while preventing all others from doing the same? If there is no way within MediaWiki to do the above, will a firewall on the server work just as well?

Also, I saw the Blocked IP Addresses and Usernames link on the Special Pages, but I did not see a link that will allow me to actually create a block. Where do I go to create the block in question?

Thanks.