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Some People @Home, Some Not @Home
11thangel writes: "Dotcomscoop is reporting that Excite@home has released a statement saying that they have discontinued service to AT&T, as it's certain negotiations will be fruitless. All others are still at the bargaining table. Earlier statements indicated that an example would be made out of one provider, AT&T being the obvious target. Everyone else keep your fingers crossed." There's a Reuters story about AT&T being unplugged. Various submissions have noted that some people who still have connectivity have lost their DNS servers. Just add "64.28.67.150 slashdot.org" to your hosts file and you should be good to go. :)
I'm here in Iowa (under AT&T @Home), and my DNS has been down all day. It came back up an hour ago.
:-(
My mail server reports that my account doesn't exist
Overall, I am impressed how AT&T has moved all its customers off Excite and onto their own network... I dunno how they did it.
The only thing I'm really worried about right now is losing my e-mail account and having friends get their messages bounced before I can tell them my new address (whatever that may be). It's almost as bad as going through a change of area code with the phone company, only here, the grace period is a matter of days.
Is your company running tools written by ma
Guys.. you can use ANY dns server on the internet pretty much. Might be that tinsy bit extra resolving latency, but the crisis is minimal.
-Restil
Play with my webcams and lights here
If you are one of the many disconnected today, here's something you can try to get back online:
If your modem still has sync (cable modem is showing online, or solid cable light - depending on what modem you have) but have you no connectivity, set your IP and host information in statically, but specify non-@Home DNS numbers.
This got me back online, so it might be worth your while to try it youself.
I've got access through Comcast@Home here in Richmond, VA. We're still up but I keep the green lights in the corner of my eye.
Mail, News, and DNS servers are all still active on their original IPs. We have not received any official email from Comcast concerning the status of their network. They're either solid with their own network and backbone, or they're just waiting to die. Either way, I wish we would get informed.
I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.
Insight Communications has released the following statement today to their customers:
Insight, along with other cable operators, is currently in the tail end of positive negotiations with @Home. At this time, we fully expect to maintain connectivity for our Insight@Home customer base.
We recognize that certain communities in our Central Illinois service areas have seen an interruption in service this morning due to an @Home error. We are working diligently to correct this issue and expect full service to be restored today. We apologize to these customers for any inconvenience this has caused.
Thank you for your continued patience as we work through this issue.
use this if your dns is not working.......
:) and a wonderfully easy address to remember as well. I use it as my secondary dns on the rare occasions when my isp's dns (san.rr.com) is choking.
4.2.2.1 (vnsc-pri.sys.gtei.net)
yes, thats a real dns server
Lawyers, MBA's, RIAA? A jedi fears not these things!
Duh. I shoulda included the numbers.
NS1.ATTBI.COM 204.127.198.4
NS2.ATTBI.COM 216.148.227.68
There.
The net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. -- John Gilmore
Glad to see AT&T couldn't get away with their usual tactics again.
With NorthPoint (former major DSL provider), a bankruptcy judge let AT&T buy NorthPoint's DSL lines for a song and let them cut off all of NorthPoint's 400,000 customers.
Sound stupid? It was.
Thank you, oh Judge Thomas Carlson of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Francisco for at least giving the bondholders, the company and the customers some options, no matter how few they might be...
here it is: http://www.att.com/press/item/0,1354,4100,00.html it just seems like this is typical of AT&T they want it, so they will try to get it cheap, then cut the users loose. looks like the victim is once again, the consumer.
I am with Charter as well, and my DNS is working fine. Try these:
nameserver 24.196.64.39
nameserver 24.196.64.40
domc
One good solution for us linux-heads with home networks is to set up a caching-only DNS server. This is as simple as installing the "caching-nameserver" RPM (along with the bind RPM, of course). Then just configure all your servers to point to your caching nameserver host for DNS and you won't be at the mercy of AT&Ts nameservers any more.
...
This let me bypass the AT&T nameservers that were having problems and get back online in no time.
-----
To test it first use this:
$ nslookup
> lserver
Default server:
Address: #53
> www.yahoo.com
Server:
Address: #53
Non-authoritative answer:
www.yahoo.com canonical name = www.yahoo.akadns.net
Name: www.yahoo.akadns.net
Address: 216.115.102.77
... and so on
> exit
$
-----
As I mentioned in a posting under the old article, static IP allocations are on hold until AT&T sorts out which networks go where in their internal network configuration databases. Those of us with static IP allocations will just have to wait a few weeks. (However, I've been told by DHCP users that generally AT&T does not aggressively recycle IPs, so even DHCP-based IPs tend to be fairly stable.)
I should also add that the new AT&T DHCP equipment seems to work with linux's "pump" DHCP client, whereas the old Excite@Home equipment in my area did not.
I wish we still had the old RoadRunner service - dunno why the hell AT&T BB dropped them for Excite@Home a few months ago - I guess because the rest of the AT&T BB customers are on @home, but I would gladly pay an extra 5 bucks a month if RR had jacked our rates up as I think they did with lots of their customers, if they had given us a good, solid reliable network. When will people get it through their thick skulls - I don't WANT content from my ISP, the excite part of Excite@Home was therefore useless to me and anyone who is halfway clueful, and the @home part had the worst service ever. What a moronic move on AT&T's part.
209.242.124.241 is actually running a number of virtual hosts, of which goatse.cx is only one. If you go there without sending a referer header, you'll end up at hick.org, the server's primary site. This explains why you don't see any trolls linking directly to goatse.cx's IP address, hoping to con people into clicking the link unwittingly.
I'm not sure it will help a lot of people, but this is what I just did to get reconnected. (Gotta feed the /. habit.) I'm in Fort Collins, CO if that's relevant to anyone. I haven't got a phone call from AT&T yet. But that may well be on account of the phone number they have listed for me is disconnected right now.
I did try sending out DHCP requests before doing this, but never got any replies. I wouldn't call this course of action exceptionally friendly behaviour. But the web sites AT&T listed in some email this past week are either unreachable or have nothing helpful.
- Listen for IP traffic coming over the modem. I did tcpdump -n -i eth0 and figured that the not-10.x.x.x router doing all the ARP requests was the neighborhood router.
- Make note of several of the IP addresses that the router continues to ask for and stop tcpdump. Also note the suspected router address.
- Set your IP address to one of the addresses from the previous step (see ifconfig(8) for help on that.) Add a default route through the router you found in the last step. route add -net default x.x.x.x )
- Hope someone follows up with a suggestion on getting DHCP working again or that you get a phone call from AT&T.
Gotchas:Good Luck!
it appears to use/call a series of VB scripts.
.vbs extnesion is associated with notepad...heheee.
There is now a little systray utility run from the startup section in the registry...I hate it when installers do that... best thing about 98se and msconfig...uncheck...done.
Not too bright, IMO, to be using VBS for this..bat file would work just as well.
I "can't/won't" run them (VB scripts), as anything with a
Have you read the moderator guidelines? Well, have you, PUNK? (and I want a Karma: Gnarly option)
First good thing that Charter has done for me.
If you are in one of those two states, you will notice that your cable modem is still synch'ed up, and that any site you try and reach will take you to this AT&T page:
http://transition-aid.attbi.com/attbi_welcome_pag
This is because you are using the OLD @home nameservers, which AT&T has replaced to resolve ALL DNS lookups to their migration help site.
The fix is as simple as it reads in the Manually Configuring Unsupported Operating Systems page
1. Fire up a dhcp client. In my case, all I needed to issue was the command:
- $ dhcpcd eth1
2. Check your DNS servers (/etc/resolv.conf) and remove any of the old @home servers. The new IPs I got were:-
204.127.198.4
3. If you have any machines inside a NAT network, you need to update their DNS server lists as well (unless your gateway is set as the DNS)63.240.76.4
4. Change your outgoing SMTP server to mail.attbi.com instead of the *.home.com host.
And that should do it! I was actually surprised how easy it was to get back online after they made the changes. I was dreading bringing out the old 56k modem again.
Lets home the remaining states get their access back soon as well...
I am so happy, my local provider is trying their damndest to keep us up and running, as per their latest e-mail:
F 0C 8sRW0B460ork0AF
F 0C 8sRW0B460ork0AF
/. and the rest of the web for that matter.
Dear Cox @ Home Customer:
As you know from our previous emails, Excite @ Home, our vendor in delivering
your Cox @ Home service, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection at the end
of September. We have endeavored to keep you informed of the potential impact
this Bankruptcy could have on your Cox @ Home service and are writing to you
today to provide the latest information we have available.
First, we want you to know that we are committed to providing you uninterrupted
high speed Internet service. Cox Communications has been working diligently in
negotiations with Excite @ Home and using all legal avenues available to protect
you, our valued customer. Meanwhile, we have been forging ahead with our
plans to deliver reliable high speed Internet service to you on our Cox-managed
network. You will soon be receiving additional information about our new Cox
High Speed Internet(sm) service, along with information to help you convert to this
new service.
The latest developments with Excite @ Home:
This month, Excite @ Home's creditors petitioned the Bankruptcy court with a
motion to allow Excite @ Home to terminate service agreements with its cable
affiliates on November 30th. This includes agreements with Cox, Comcast and
AT&T. If the Court grants the creditors' request, there conceivably could be a
temporary disruption in the services that Excite @ Home provides to
approximately 3.7 million customers served by its North American cable affiliates.
We are doing everything possible to see that there will not be a disruption in your
service, but also want you to understand the possibilities and to be prepared:
*If the Judge's ruling states that Excite @ Home may terminate its service
agreements with Cox and the other cable affiliates, this does not mean that
Excite @ Home will automatically turn off the service on November 30th.
*With the Judge's approval, Excite @ Home would then have the ability to make
a decision on termination; however, we are negotiating with them to prevent any
service disruption.
*If Excite @ Home decides to terminate service despite our efforts to negotiate a
temporary arrangement, the question remains as to when the service would be
terminated. We are doing everything we can to ensure that your Cox @ Home
service continues until we can transition you to our new Cox-managed Internet
service. In short, we are doing our best to make sure that you will never be
without high speed Internet service.
Additional help Cox is providing:
In addition to exercising legal avenues, negotiating with Excite @ Home, and
building our own high speed Internet service, Cox is also offering the following to
help you and to keep you informed during this transitional period:
Toll Free Customer Information Line (1-877-832-4751). You can call in for
the latest updates as we work to quickly resolve any service issues.
Website Message Center at Cox.com/info
http://uuhttp.flonetwork.com/cgi-bin3/flo?y=eJI
We will provide online updates and a "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) section to
address your concerns.
Automatic Account Credits. We will credit your account automatically for
service and leased equipment so that you are reimbursed for any time you
are without service.
Free, temporary dial-up Internet access. In the unlikely event that you
should experience a service disruption, we have arranged for temporary
dial-up access to the Internet via NetZero(R). In order to take advantage of
this precautionary option, please see the "What Should I be Doing Right
Now" section that follows.
Cox has a long history of outstanding service in your community. We pride
ourselves on providing high quality products and the best customer service.
Please know that we are committed to our customers and understand the
extent to which you enjoy the services we provide. We recognize that you
have a choice in service providers and we will continue to do our best to
remain your choice now and in the future. In advance, we apologize for any
inconvenience that the Bankruptcy of our vendor Excite @ Home may cause
you.
Stay tuned for more details, and thank you for choosing Cox.
Sincerely,
The Cox High-Speed Internet Team
Cox Communications, Inc.
_______________________________
What Should I be Doing Right Now?
1. Check your Cox @ Home email daily. Opened messages will be saved
automatically to your hard drive.
2. Download free dial-up Internet software. In the unlikely event that Excite
@ Home terminates your service, you would lose connectivity to the Internet and
access to your Cox @ Home services such as email and webspace. We do not
recommend that you install the software at this time, just download the software
and save it so that it may be installed should you have an interruption in service.
In order to restore access to the Internet and to set up a temporary email
address, we recommend that you register for dial-up service via NetZero and
download the necessary software. You will not be able to download the software
from your home after your Internet service has already been disrupted. While a
free dial-up connection is not ideal, it will give you temporary access to the
Internet for surfing, making transactions, etc. However, you will not be able to
access your Cox @ Home email accounts while the service is shut down. For
information on how to download this software, please visit Cox.com/info
http://uuhttp.flonetwork.com/cgi-bin3/flo?y=eJI
3. Back up your personal web page to your hard drive or to a CD. (This is a
good precautionary measure to follow at any time.)
4. In the unlikely event that there is a disruption in service, keep your cable
modem connected to your PC until service is restored.
5. Watch for more information from Cox on the transition of your service to
Cox High Speed Internet. At such time that you can make the transition to our
new service, Cox will be providing you with all of the information you need to make
your transition as smooth as possible.
Locally, Cox is taking over the excite network, calling it just the generic, "Cox High-Speed Internet" so hopefully I can still browse
Mo Bandwidth. Mo Problems.
I hate sigs.
This is incorrect. I've had DSL for a couple of years now at three different locations, and I've used the same local ISP every time. There has never been any push or even a suggestion from Qwest for me to use MSN.
I hate Qwest and MS as much as the next guy, but let's stick to facts.
-Legion
Obviously if they really didn't want people outside they're network to use their DNS systems they would have set it up like that.
It's probably just a joke, since their IPs are so easy to remember. There could be a lot of people who's DNS servers are down using these, maybe they just wanted to 'remind' people to use other DNS servers when they could find them, without cutting them off from the 'net.
Not everyone is a humorless bastard, you know.
autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
Ok, I've been telling you guys for a couple years now that cable modem companies couldn't make money at $40 a month, that they'd break even closer to $50 a month.
Now, we have a cable modem provider charging $40 a month, and losing $6 million a week from 4 million customers.
That means they'd break even if they were taking in an extra $6 a month per subscriber. Assume 33% for income tax, it comes out to $9 more per month per subscriber.
In other words, somewhere between $46 and $49 a month, they break even...
Gee, imagine that.
Meanwhile, RoadRunner is charging around $45 to $50 a month, if you also have cable TV, which is where they make all the money, and they're not going out of business. All you @Home folks who were bragging 'cause you were paying less, and especially those of you who were bitching that $40 a month was unreasonably high, congratulations; you priced yourself back into dialup.
Actually, 4.2.2.4 was set up as an intentional joke. All those servers are maintained by Genuity, and one of the guys in NetEng decided it'd be cute to toss in a funny reverse-resolve for the fourth address.
:)
Bear in mind, that 4.2.2.4 doesn't work...
// Agent Green (Ian / IU7 / KB1JQO)
// IEEE 802.3: All 10base Are Belong To Us
er...
What I mean is, check out worldnet.att.net as a dialup.
Linux friendly; see: www.wurd.com/eng/setup/dialers/linux.html "Linux and AT&T WorldNet® Service"
They also have a newsgroup: worldnet.help.software.dialers.unix-variant
$21.95 a month unlimited, 56K, re-dialers welcome.
Anyway, have some self-respect..
t_t_b
I'm on PJ's "enemies" list! Are you?
The Canadain government subsidises internet access...
A crock of shit. Not a dime. Nada.
There is a governing body (the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission, like the FTC) which has set a limit of $45.00 for basic highspeed. If you don't feel you can provide for that price then don't. All the providers are publicly listed firms* and they all make money. Strangely, most don't even charge that much.
If they wanted to charge more, they would have to apply to the CRTC. This is the same as cableTV; so far in 25 years they have never failed to approve a cable rate increase when asked, so I don't see a major stumbling block here.
SaskTel is publicly owned an operates in Saskatchewan only. They provide hispeed DSL and TVoverPhone service, as well as local and long distance phone service. Their $40 a month DSL service loses so much money, they were only able to provide $97 million as a dividend to the province last year.
I'll be the first to tell you I'm a AT&T Whore. AT&T's handeling of this is horrible. I work for the recently split off AT&T Wireless and can truly say i've never been more ashamed to be affiliated with the AT&T name.
l #d ec1-1
I'm a California baised AT&T Broadband customer and everyone in this area confirms that like me, they never received any notification (email, snail mail, phone, smoke signal) that their would be a potential outage, e-mail address changes, provider change, etc.
I spent a good 2 hours this morning trying to reach a representative to find out when my service would be back up (10 days is a big window). Every number was busy or sent me to an IVR that dumped me to a prerecorded message saying my service would be back up withen 10 days, blah, blah, blah.
I finally called and took the route for new service. It was answered withen 20 Seconds (BASTARDS!). I asked the representative that answered to help me and was read some script they give the phone monkeys, and told that their was a mailer sent out on the 12th of Novemeber and possibly due to the terrorist attacks via the mail system it could be delayed (I got my bill from them today postmarked nov 28th). I've done phone customer care and know how much it sucks, but I had to laugh at that numbskull response and ask if that was his own thought or if it was a script.... That's when he promptly told me he was terminating the call.
However when I did get backonline with a old dialup that was thankfully still active The AT&T Broadband Help site was no help at all. I check out some of the other providers and I don't understand how Rogers can give such stellar customer service via one web page.
Check out thier transistion support page....
http://www.rogershelp.com/transitionupdate.shtm
And not even be shut down yet, while AT&T who is offline can't even give it's customers basic information.
Absolutely NO one has made mention of this, but the one company that has been exempt from discontinuation of service from the Judge's ruling is Shaw Cablesystems serving western Canada. All @Home services still being used by Shaw (Content, Mail, Webspace and News) have never stopped working for this transition period. DHCP/DNS/Proxies/Provisioning is all done in-house. Gives customers more time to switch to the new services.
// marc