Site Stability!

Well, today was a bad day for the website. My IP from cox was being finicky so it kept on dropping network connectivity, but since I have a new IP hopefully we will stay here for a while. Sorry for any interuptions.

Well, looks like cox is not liking either the incomming bandwidth for the connection or that they don't like my static address. I am looking into getting a business account to help allieviate the problems, so hang in there and I will hopefully have this fixed soon.

I've heard that you would be better off with an SBC DSL commercial connection then a Cox Buisness connection. But I've never had experience with either, so have at :-)

That is un-feasible at this point in time since I am not and have no plans to switch my phone service over to sbc, but that is anohter issue. Untill they offer their service seperate from there phone I will not be partaking.

What tards. I wouldn't switch either then.

Interestingly enough I was about to email you about this.

I have a Cox business connection (at my house). A Cox tech randomly showed up at my house yesterday, and mentioned that the plans they have now were different than the one I have. I called my rep this morning to ask about that, and they're actually in the process of automatically transitioning everyone over to the new plans which means more bandwidth for me (4mb/512kb as opposed to 3mb/384kb), and more IPs (5 static instead of 2).

Since you have to do all that weird DNS redirection I was wondering if you wanted to run the forums off my connection. You're welcome to stick a box at my house, or run them off one of mine. I won't be offended at all if you don't take me up on that, but I thought I'd offer.

For anyone who is interested in a Cox Business connect, I highly recommend talking to my rep. His name is Kevin Walsh, and his number is (405) 600-4000, extension 7023. He's been great, and on the rare occasion that I've had problems with tech services or anyone else in Cox he's gotten in touch with them and worked out the problem for me. They're on commission, so I try to send people his way when I get the opportunity.

- Colleen

Well, thanks for the contact information, I just called Kevin and I am going to switch over to a business account. Thank you. Hopefully I will have my static IP up in no time. He did, however, warn me against drawing attention to myself :) He said the network police would shut me down if the bandwidth was too intensive. That sounds like crap to me. I guess they don't want a saturated connection, but hey I don't think we will be saturating anything :)

Stay Tuned!

He did, however, warn me against drawing attention to myself :) He said the network police would shut me down if the bandwidth was too intensive. That sounds like crap to me.

That is pretty random, and contrary to everything I've been told by everyone at Cox (including him). Did you sign up for a "business" plan, or a "home office" plan?

The only thing they're shady about IME is DNS servers. They'll all tell you that you can run any sort of server except DNS servers. But there's absolutely nothing about that in their AUP, so as far as I'm concerned I'm fully within my rights to run one.

The switch should be quick. Basically as soon as I called and asked for my static IPs I set them up and they worked. All they really do is send a new config file to your cablemodem and update their customer info.

On a completely unrelated note, have you ever run gentoo on sparc64? I'm about to attempt an install on my blade 100.

- Colleen

It is the "home office" or home business plan whatever it is called. He said it is designed basically for people trying to use vpn, which is weird, because I can connect to my companies vpn just fine. I think they just try to push people into the higher price plans if they plan on running servers, but until I see the contract I won't know for sure.

Yeah, that is what I have heard that they don't like dns, I will have to look over the thing and see. I plan on running dns too, so they will have to show me that I can't before they tell me no. :) I don't see how this would affect them, but if I have to I can always get my dns hosted else were.

It is the "home office" or home business plan whatever it is called.

Ahh, that makes sense then. There are two differences between "home office" and "business". With "business" you can have as many static IPs as you want (and are willing to pay for) and you are allowed and encouraged to run servers. "Home office" gets you 1 static IP and servers are a no-no (by policy, they don't block ports).

He said it is designed basically for people trying to use vpn, which is weird, because I can connect to my companies vpn just fine.

AFAIK "main mode" (ipsec) VPN connections require static IPs at each end; if you have a dynamic IP you have to use aggressive mode. This is probably a policy thing for some telecommuters.

Yeah, that is what I have heard that they don't like dns, I will have to look over the thing and see. I plan on running dns too, so they will have to show me that I can't before they tell me no. :) I don't see how this would affect them, but if I have to I can always get my dns hosted else were.

Well, their AUP doesn't even mention DNS, so I don't feel compelled to listen to them. I run a DNS server on my connection. I suspect that if you get in trouble for running a server it will be the webserver. IMO, such policies are a CYA policy so that ISPs can terminate problem customers. As long as you're not "that guy", you'll be fine. ;-P

- Colleen

Yeah, I think your right about being "that guy" and that is kind of the point he was trying to make. I just can't see paying $159/month for the full business line. I will just go back to standard service or switch my phone over to sbc and get dsl with a static ip, they don't really care what you do from what I hear.

Are you referring to having a always on tunnel?? I have never had a vpn connection that required static ip connection.

Are you referring to having a always on tunnel?? I have never had a vpn connection that required static ip connection.

No, I'm referring to IKE modes. Main mode (more secure) requires static IPs on both ends. A dynamic IP on one end necessitates aggressive mode (less secure). I think the only way you can do main mode with a dynamic IPs is if you use x509 certs in the negotiation rather than IPs. I've never done that though, so I'm not 100% sure...

That make sense since I have always authenticated with a certificate using ciscos vpn client and a cisco concentrator.