Comcast Outage Causing Delays Across The Net

[Joe]

It seems that Comcast is having some serious ongoing issues with their backbone lines: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,131...s=9999~start=20 (http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13154925~mode=flat~days=9999~start=20)

It's causing noticable slowdowns across the net (past 36 hours)....

Just thought I'd share that with you if you've noticed any slow access times - it's not us, it's them :)

Joe

[caddickj]

Yeah, I've had no internet a couple nights this week already. REALLY annoying.

Anyone know how to switch DNS servers?

[Joe]

The thread quoted above should show you how

[caddickj]

Grrr.... my stupid Linksys router won't let me edit my DNS addresses. That's another check in the "get a new router" column.

[thevillageinn]

If you have an old computer laying around, not doing anything, which would accept 2 network cards you could use IPCop or any number of other Linux based firewalls.

I switched to IPCop from from a netgear broadband router because the netgear wouldn't hold enough port forwarding rules. It's been great. I chose IPCop because it came with support for PCMCIA out of the box.

[caddickj]

Originally posted by thevillageinn@Apr 14 2005, 11:07 PM
If you have an old computer laying around, not doing anything, which would accept 2 network cards you could use IPCop or any number of other Linux based firewalls.

I switched to IPCop from from a netgear broadband router because the netgear wouldn't hold enough port forwarding rules. It's been great. I chose IPCop because it came with support for PCMCIA out of the box.
Quoted post

Hmmm... this is an idea I've never considered... and I'm not sure I completely understand it. Let me see if I've got it straight.

I set up the Linux box to be between the modem and the router, it (with the help of IPCop) acts as a DHCP server for the router, which then acts as the DHCP for the rest of the network? and everything else is status quo?

That sounds do-able, with two concerns: 1. I wonder what that would do to my VOIP phoneline (probably nothing, but it's worth considering), and 2. I don't know jack about Linux (that's a bigger problem).

I actually have a couple computers laying around that might fit the bill. One's a laptop with an unreliable hard drive, though, so that one might not quite do it. The other one is what my wife uses all the time while I'm on our main computer ... but I'm sure she'd be willing to give it up.... :unsure:

[Joe]

If #2 == True, ABORT! Don't try this at home :)

[dbmasters]

Get a DLink caddickj. :)

[caddickj]

Originally posted by Joe+Apr 15 2005, 05:40 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Joe @ Apr 15 2005, 05:40 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'>If #2 == True, ABORT! Don't try this at home :)
Quoted post
[/b]
Heh... which #2 is that... the ignorance or my wife. Personally I'm more worried about my wife! If I take away her FreeCell she may start thinking up chores for me... ;)

<!--QuoteBegin-dbmasters@Apr 15 2005, 07:36 AM
Get a DLink caddickj. :)
Quoted post
[/quote]

I'm thinking that may be the way to go... B)

[dbmasters]

I have used both quite a bit, I find DLink's much easier to set up and much more reliable..plus their built in firewall rocks.

[danw]

Is this still a problem? I've been noticing all week that my site (on www22) has been going awful slow.

Dan

[Joe]

Send us a traceroute to the helpdesk - I'll look into it.

[thevillageinn]

Originally posted by caddickj@Apr 14 2005, 09:30 PM
Hmmm... this is an idea I've never considered... and I'm not sure I completely understand it. Let me see if I've got it straight.

I set up the Linux box to be between the modem and the router, it (with the help of IPCop) acts as a DHCP server for the router, which then acts as the DHCP for the rest of the network? and everything else is status quo?

That sounds do-able, with two concerns: 1. I wonder what that would do to my VOIP phoneline (probably nothing, but it's worth considering), and 2. I don't know jack about Linux (that's a bigger problem).

I actually have a couple computers laying around that might fit the bill. One's a laptop with an unreliable hard drive, though, so that one might not quite do it. The other one is what my wife uses all the time while I'm on our main computer ... but I'm sure she'd be willing to give it up.... :unsure:


1. I don't think anything particular. You might have to open a port or two for it, but there aren't many issues with voip on the mailing list.

2. Linux familiarity is not necessary. The set up is pretty straight forward and most management tasks can be handled from the web based GUI.

I'd recommend you use the laptop. Either pickup a fairly small used HDD, or IpCop also supports Compact Flash installations.

I used to use a store bought broadband router, but had to seek something else when I needed more rules than they allowed by default. I've got more capacity for rules than I can shake a stick at. Plus, if you are into stats and logs, access control, caching, proxying and such, IPCop and other dedicated firewall distributions do a much better job than the consumer broadband router. But heck, that's my $.02

[jmcmillon]

I did something similar back in college to share a cable modem amongst my roommates before cheap routers were really available. One thing to remember is the costs associated (electricity) with keeping ANOTHER computer on 24/7. I figured it out once and it does really affect your electric bill.

[thevillageinn]

good point.

easy enough to figure based on the rating of the power supply. (though you might think I'd have noticed on my own bill having had one system which used to run 24x7 off for the last few months...no substantial change unfortunately) The CRT is also one of the largest electricity consumers - I also didn't notice a change when I switched to LCD. :(

another good reason to use an old-ish laptop