Comcast: Changing ip's

[Brian Witowski]

I'm confused as to exactly what they were claiming you did wrong.  It is not
uncommon for a broadband provider to prohibit running websites on
residential accounts.  However they usually don't mind a mail server.

Brian

> -----Original Message-----
> From: linux-users-admin at linux-sxs.org
> [mailto:linux-users-admin at linux-sxs.org]On Behalf Of Joel Hammer
> Sent: Sunday, July 07, 2002 10:45 PM
> To: linux-users at linux-sxs.org
> Subject: Comcast: Changing ip's
>
>
> Just to share a frustrating experience and maybe gather enthusiasm for a
> class action lawsuit or something.
>
> I use the local cable monopoly for my ISP, comcast.
>
> I use linux, obviously.
>
> I used dhcpcd to get my dynamically assigned ip address. The last time (in
> fact every time) I have gotten an address from comcast, the lease has been
> infinite, at least I think that a lease time of:
>
> LEASETIME=4294967295
> RENEWALTIME=259200
> REBINDTIME=3758096383
>
> is infinite in the unix world.
>
> As a result, dhcpcd, instead of starting and staying a daemon,
> watching for
> the server to reassign the number, always exits after getting this lease
> time, saying that the lease was infinite, and so why bother running.
>
> Last night I lost my cable connection. I could see local traffic
> but nothing
> else.
>
> I finally called comcast 18 hours later, and was told, after many hours,
> (really, about three hours) that they had disconnected me. They had
> reassigned my ip number and since I had  a static setup (third party
> software according to one service person) I was not allowed on their
> service and "one more incident like this and they would discontinue my
> account permanently." I did point out that I wouldn't mind that at all.
>
> I tried to explain, but, of course, this was not possible. After begging,
> they allowed me to obtain another dynamic ip number. That was
> nice of them,
> since I am a paying customer. It was nice of them to just d/c my service
> without notice. It was nice of them to cause this mess by assigning me an
> infinite lease to begin with.
>
> Sigh. They, being a monopoly, like best to deal with another monopoly,
> windows.
>
> But, after hours of work, all seems to be working again. Gaadd. What a
> bother.
>
> I wonder how those lindows computers will fare with this sort of hostile
> environment to linux?
>
> Joel
>
>