[Sunhelp] DSL question (kinda offtopic)

[Phil Brutsche]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far way, someone said...

> My DSL provided wants to charge me business rates (costs 7x more), so
> I'm wondering what other providers polocies are.

Around here, similar.

> First, I have a SparcStation Classis (this is the on-topic part) doing
> my NAT, so they call that a server and want to charge me for for that,

So don't tell them about the unix box - tell them you have an "internet
connection sharing device" like the LinkSys Cable modem/DSL router
(http://www.linksys.com/products/group.asp?grid=5)

> but they are too dumb to confirm it beyond the fact that I was talking
> to a guy about my setup who then talked to them, and I'm well know as
> the town UNIX guy (I don't know much, but that's a lot more than anyone
> else).
>
> Second, I talked to their management and got them to give me a static
> IP, just so I can telnet in and grab the occasional file.  They want to
> push me up to a business account for that.

Explicitly getting a static IP it what tips them off.  Truthfully
speaking, sometimes you don't need to tell them you want a static IP - the
IP gets dynamically assigned by DHCP (around here, at least), and is
static anyway.

There are also ways of having a script detect when your IP number changes
and update a DNS entry through a free dns service like dyndns.org.

> So, the question is, does anyone have a provider that allows them to use
> a unix box as a NAT box, and does anyone have to pay business fees to
> get a static IP?

Locally (Omaha, NE, USA), I use "unix" (Linux, actually) boxen for NAT on
@Home cable modem connections.  I have no problems, and effectively a
static IP.  As far as @Home is concerned, all I have is an "internet
connection sharing device".

I'm just careful not to let them know that I'm running a "server" (ssh,
*light* email, and the occasional Napster), otherwise they'll start
charging the business rate :(

> I currently pay $50 for a 384k (downstream, not sure upstream), and they
> want $300 for a 512k business connection (plus some cheapo useless junk,
> like 5 e-mail addresses!)

$300 is awfully expensive, even for a business connection.

-- 
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Phil Brutsche					pbrutsch at creighton.edu

"There are two things that are infinite; Human stupidity and the universe.
And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein