Comcast: Changing ip's

[Joel Hammer]

They said I had my computer set up to use a static ip number. They were
right. That is to say, my computer wouldn't reconfigure itself when the DHCP
server on the comcast end said to reconfigure. I have since rectified that
problem, but keeping dhcpcd running all the time is something I have to be
careful about. I may have to write a script which monitors dhcpcd and
restarts it or turns of my NIC if dhcpcd refuses to run.
DHCPCD is the only way I will have of knowing when they change
me. The problem was, they gave me an infinite lease last time and dhcpcd
turns itself off when the lease is infinite. I have written this script which
runs every time dhcpcd starts or, hopefully, detects a change in the ip
number assigned by comcast:

ifconfig eth1 down
echo "IP has changed" | mutt -s "IP CHANGED" jlh
/sbin/dhcpcd -d -h tow33dhcp1252.towson01.md.comcast.net eth1
 . /var/run/dhcpcd-eth1.info
/sbin/ifconfig eth1 down
/sbin/ifconfig eth1 $IPADDR netmask $NETMASK broadcast $BROADCAST
/sbin/route add -net default gw $GATEWAY eth1                           

This won't fix up my firewall or hosts.allow files, but I'll be working on
those in the near future! And, for all I know the route command won't work,
but I don't care as long as comcast doesn't cut me off.

Joel

On Mon, Jul 08, 2002 at 08:44:52AM -0400, Brian Witowski wrote:
> 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
> >
> >
> 
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