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Comcast and Xfinity Facing a Nationwide Outage [Update: Company Confirms]

Posted by msmash on from the outage-reports dept.

Thousands of people from across the country are reporting that they are facing connectivity issues with Comcast and its service Xfinity on Friday. Comcast is yet to acknowledge and address the outage, hence it is unclear how long the widespread outage may last. According to DownDetector, a service that tracks outages, the majority of the northeast United States and areas in Colorado, California, the midwest and southeast were affected. Some users reported issues watching TV as well.

Veteran reporter Ed Oswald said, "Nearly an hour into what is clearly a massive nationwide outage for #Comcast/#Xfinity and nary a peep out of the company across any of its public facing channels. I can understand not bringing attention to local outages, but this.."

Update: Comcast says it is aware of a "nationwide outage impacting some of our internet, video and voice customers." In a statement, Comcast shared some background on the outage: One of Comcast's large backbone network partners had a fiber cut that we believe is also impacting other providers. It is currently affecting our business and residential internet, video and voice customers. We apologize & are working to get services restored as soon as possible.

81 of 246 comments (clear)

  1. That twitter link is login-walled. by Fly+Swatter · · Score: 1

    Which is sort like being pay-walled. So nothing to see. No Xfinity 4 U.

    1. Re:That twitter link is login-walled. by msmash · · Score: 1

      Changed it with another link. Is the new link accessible?

    2. Re:That twitter link is login-walled. by Fly+Swatter · · Score: 1

      It works now, thanks.

  2. Re:It's the World Cup. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Especially when there are no games. Video traffic really spikes when there's nothing to watch.

  3. Strange partial outage in Colorado by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    I'm in Colorado on Comcast, and so far it's mostly working - but there are a handful of sites I cannot reach. Maybe they are behind Comcast in an area with a full outage and I'm not really affected at all.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Strange partial outage in Colorado by Pascoea · · Score: 4, Funny

      but there are a handful of sites I cannot reach

      This is just testing there testing phase.

      Step 2 is the letter you're going to get in the mail next week suggesting you to upgrade to the Xfinity Everything internet package that includes access to premium websites. But it will be OK because there will be a promotion for $5* per month for 12 months with 2 months free. *plus associated fees, surcharges, and taxes. Limited time offer, see terms and conditions for details.

    2. Re:Strange partial outage in Colorado by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 1

      Same here. Had difficulties getting to Slashdot and Blizzard, and some other sites were loading oddly, but that's all gone away now.

  4. Who is the idiot who posted this? by Topwiz · · Score: 1

    There are several messages on the Comcast twitter account that is linked regarding the issue yet msmash states that Comcast has not acknowledged it.

    1. Re:Who is the idiot who posted this? by msmash · · Score: 2

      That's general tech support. You can go a week back and see similar tweets from them to some users. They are now acknowledging that it's a widespread issue. A tweet directed at all their followers saying something is wrong with their connection today would quality as an acknowledgement. You have a nice day, too.

    2. Re:Who is the idiot who posted this? by msmash · · Score: 1

      Meant to say, "They are *not acknowledging [...]"

    3. Re:Who is the idiot who posted this? by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 2

      There are several messages on the Comcast twitter account that is linked regarding the issue yet msmash states that Comcast has not acknowledged it.

      Well, Newsweek is reporting it:

      http://www.newsweek.com/comcas...

      Comcast will probably never acknowledged it anyway, as it would be an admission of fault on their part.

      They will probably blame it on "User Errors":

      "USER ERROR: Please replace user, and try again."

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    4. Re:Who is the idiot who posted this? by msauve · · Score: 2

      msmash stated no such thing. They quoted someone who did, and who also qualified it by saying "Nearly an hour into..."

      You're the idiot who should work on their reading skills before commenting.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    5. Re:Who is the idiot who posted this? by HeckRuler · · Score: 1

      Do you honestly expect anything for the corporate overlords within an hour? The sysadmins and network engineers, sure, it's literally their job and some of them are bound to believe in keeping customers informed. But corporate? And I think it's the sort of thing that takes someone with authority to fess up to. I'd throw that upstairs. Maybe it's different in an ISP company, but getting ANY sort of reply from management isn't exactly a quick process. Certainly not within an hour. If it's embarrassing to the company they'd squirm and point fingers and make you vouch three times that, yes, there's actually a problem before they admit to the customer.

      It's Comcast, so fuck'em, but it kind of feels like an unreasonable expectation.

      If something was up with Slashdot... how fast do you think you could get a public statement out of the corporate overlords at... oh, now it's "BizX".

    6. Re:Who is the idiot who posted this? by AvitarX · · Score: 1

      The rumor is they're reporting "external network issues" if you make it through the call center.

      It is not DNS (I don't know why people say that would be reported on, but not explained in even a garbage written in the future Newsweek article), I timeout, not host not found.

      It appears to not be just Comcast (this map is pretty similar to Comcast's http://downdetector.com/status...).

      No incoming phone, people are claiming TV out, outgoing phone is fine, and internet is hit or miss.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    7. Re:Who is the idiot who posted this? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      The Weekly World News is dead (long live batboy). Don't you dare compare it to crap like Newsweek, the NYTimes or the Daily Mail.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    8. Re:Who is the idiot who posted this? by jbmartin6 · · Score: 1

      It's the lawyers. I hate every process at work that involves them since it will absolutely take twenty times as long as it needs to while they argue over minutiae.

      --
      This posting is provided 'AS IS' without warranty of any kind, implied or otherwise.
  5. Looks more serious.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Level3, AT&T, and Verizon seem to be having issues as well....

    1. Re:Looks more serious.... by jessepdx · · Score: 2

      Look s like Level3 is having lots of issues

    2. Re:Looks more serious.... by snapsnap · · Score: 1

      It's a day that ends in -y.

    3. Re:Looks more serious.... by TimMD909 · · Score: 1

      It's a day that ends in -y.

      Then all they need to do is switch to Esperanto and their problems are solved. You're welcome. I'm off to solve all political issues with a witty bumper sticker.

    4. Re:Looks more serious.... by jeauxkewl · · Score: 1

      It's a day that ends in -y.

      Then all they need to do is switch to Esperanto and their problems are solved. You're welcome. I'm off to solve all political issues with a witty bumper sticker.

      Or switch to Geico.

  6. Looks like Level 3 issues (shocking, I know!) by FritzTheCat1030 · · Score: 1

    On Comcast in Atlanta...most sites working fine. Some, however, have been unreachable for the past hour or so. Traceroutes to affected sites all crap out at Level 3 servers.

  7. Mergers are gr8! by SeaFox · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Isn't it awesome that we keep allowing these large internet providers to buy up more and more smaller ISPs and merge with other large companies.

    Imagine a day when all of America can stand in solidarity, regardless of age, gender, skin color, or religious viewpoint -- and commiserate the lack of internet service we all share because "the Internet company" (which will likely be AT&T at that point), is having a nationwide outage.

    1. Re:Mergers are gr8! by Train0987 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Or we could imagine a day where people's lives aren't dictated by whether they have a f'ing internet connection or not. Somehow humans have managed just fine for the past 10,000 years without Facebook.

    2. Re:Mergers are gr8! by AvitarX · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Believe it or not, customers not being able to call in is going to have an effect on my life.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    3. Re:Mergers are gr8! by TimMD909 · · Score: 2

      Or we could imagine a day where people's lives aren't dictated by whether they have a f'ing internet connection or not. Somehow humans have managed just fine for the past 10,000 years without Facebook.

      I make websites for a living. Pretty sure I'd not have a job before 1993, cuz ya know... having a working internet connection is sort of important for me. Your argument is like saying sanitation isn't that important because witch doctors managed just fine for thousands of years.

    4. Re:Mergers are gr8! by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 2

      We also survived 10,000 years without indoor plumbing. Doesn't mean I want to go back to that.

      --
      Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
    5. Re:Mergers are gr8! by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      Or we could imagine a day where people's lives aren't dictated by whether they have a f'ing internet connection or not. Somehow humans have managed just fine for the past 10,000 years without Facebook.

      I suppose you don't notice the irony in bringing up Facebook, another large corporation whose goal is to "own all the communications" and does so by buying up other companies that bring alternate means to the table?

      A more resilient system of sharing information exists through use of Instant messenger/VoIP, email transmitted between servers owned by several companies, and personal space on the web defined by thousands of blogs hosted on providers stretching the globe. Not a cookie-cutter profile in a single huge data center.

    6. Re:Mergers are gr8! by sjames · · Score: 1

      They also managed without clothes, the wheel, stone tools, or fire at one point. You first.

    7. Re:Mergers are gr8! by mysidia · · Score: 1

      We also survived 10,000 years without indoor plumbing. Doesn't mean I want to go back to that.

      Thankfully there is little chance that some national company is going to snatch up your local water utility company and Integrate your water grid into the same system as their "national water grid" in order to realize reduced cost and synergies with the downside that it would now be possible to have a "National water outage"

    8. Re:Mergers are gr8! by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      Or we could imagine a day where people's lives aren't dictated by whether they have a f'ing internet connection or not. Somehow humans have managed just fine for the past 10,000 years without Facebook.

      Except the Interinet, like cellphones, have transformed our lives enough that it's impossible to go back. Life without a cellphone is tough - sure you have landlines still, but you don't have payphones. If you're in the middle of nowhere, you now have to rely on the kindness of strangers to let you use their phone. Where there were plenty of payphones everywhere, there are none now. And now, sometimes you can't even get a landline - either the local telco gave up and let them rot and says if you want a home phone, here's a plan and a cellphone.

      Likewise, not having an internet connection today is a huge setback. There are just things you can no longer do. Applying for jobs is now much harder because most companies expect you email them your resume and cover letter, few even require an online application process. And the more menial the job,. the more this is a requirement

      Hell, a lot of libraries got rid of their reference materials because the Internet is available, and shelves that formerly hold books often now only have "media areas" where patrons can look up information themselves, or rent usage of equipment

      Face it, the Internet has become a basic utility these days. Alongside water, electricity, garbage collection, roads, etc.

    9. Re:Mergers are gr8! by DerekLyons · · Score: 1

      Isn't it awesome that we keep allowing these large internet providers to buy up more and more smaller ISPs and merge with other large companies.

      Nice rant, but it's unrelated to the problem at hand. Even smaller ISPs are vulnerable to problems at the backbone level.

    10. Re:Mergers are gr8! by Waccoon · · Score: 1

      Even better, this outage highlights the very technical problem that routing was meant to prevent. It literally defeats the point of the Internet.

      And the Lord said, go forth and consolidate!

  8. Thanks, Ajit Pai! by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

    Clearly this is Comcast/Xfinitys' new business strategy in the post-post-net neutrality era: You have to pay by the IP address for access. They just haven't got around to sending out the email with the new Terms of Service for you to not read and click 'Agree' on.

  9. Comcast DNS by Zorro · · Score: 1

    Try switching your DNS to Google or OpenDNS

    For IPv4: 8.8.8.8 and/or 8.8.4.4.
    For IPv6: 2001:4860:4860::8888 and/or 2001:4860:4860::8844.

    OpenDNS server addresses, 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220; Pv6 2620:0:ccc::2 and 2620:0:ccd::2

    1. Re:Comcast DNS by cj9er · · Score: 1

      Doesn't matter, tried that and the 1.1.1.1 service. None help, must be having issues either with that port on their network or something along those lines. I wonder if they are under DDOS.

    2. Re:Comcast DNS by cj9er · · Score: 2

      Or if a fiber got cut somewhere...

    3. Re:Comcast DNS by neilo_1701D · · Score: 1

      Try switching your DNS to Google or OpenDNS

      For IPv4: 8.8.8.8 and/or 8.8.4.4.
      For IPv6: 2001:4860:4860::8888 and/or 2001:4860:4860::8844.

      OpenDNS server addresses, 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220; Pv6 2620:0:ccc::2 and 2620:0:ccd::2

      My service was funky, but setting these DNS values sorted it out.

      Rally weird how some sites were working but others not.

    4. Re:Comcast DNS by AvitarX · · Score: 1

      Why would I do that when I'm not getting DNS errors?

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
    5. Re:Comcast DNS by Zorro · · Score: 1

      Comcast DNS is Historically Funky.

    6. Re:Comcast DNS by AvitarX · · Score: 1

      I don't actually use their DNS (the NXDOMAIN interception made it pretty unusable), but it was pretty obviously not a DNS issue, and yet dozens of people keep suggesting it was.

      Like that wouldn't be the first thing noticed, or the headline, if it was the case.

      --
      Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
  10. In Chicago. Partially down here. by Chas · · Score: 1

    Some websites work, generally big providers (Google/FB/Twitter/etc).
    IRC works.
    Interestingly, Discord works.

    But my IP phone is hosed.
    Craigslist doesn't come up.
    And most of my other IM services don't work right now.

    I can't even log into my damn Xfinity account.

    --


    Chas - The one, the only.
    THANK GOD!!!
  11. Spectrum too? by MorePower · · Score: 1

    My home internet from Spectrum is out and looking at https://istheservicedown.com/p... it seems Spectrum is having massive outages too. Coordinated attack on cable companies?

    1. Re:Spectrum too? by omnichad · · Score: 1

      St. Louis area had a major wind/rain/lightning/tornado storm last night (down here for 15 hours). Are you in a Charter region or TWC?

    2. Re:Spectrum too? by Train0987 · · Score: 1

      Why not just use the IP6 at your router and then NAT IP4 your local devices? Who in their right mind wants all of their internal devices to have a public-facing IP in the first place?

  12. Re:It's the World Cup. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    we don't watch the world cup in the United States because soccer sucks.

  13. Can't be bothered by VeryFluffyBunny · · Score: 1

    I bet they just can't be bothered to provide the service anymore. if it sort of works, that's OK. If it goes down for a bit, so what? It's not like you can switch to a competitor's service or anything. They can get their PR department to spin the executives' attitude into something that sounds concerned and caring.

    --
    Debate is a form of harassment. Do not question my truth.
    1. Re:Can't be bothered by omnichad · · Score: 1

      If it goes down for a bit, so what?

      And it's pure profit for service calls. Tech comes out, Internet is working - full service charge for the tech visit on the customer. Try and prove your Internet was down prior. A lot of modems don't even show the customer-facing side logs older than 30 minutes with the cable company provided FW.

  14. Something just happened at the White House by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I work near the White House and it looks like they just scrambled a whole shit-ton of people out in helicopters.

    1. Re:Something just happened at the White House by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Trump converted to Islam?

    2. Re:Something just happened at the White House by squiggleslash · · Score: 2

      Wasn't today the day they were planning to switch over the Pentagon computers to that new AI system they're calling "Skynet"? Maybe some teething issues, probably just overloaded a router or something, nothing to worry about.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    3. Re:Something just happened at the White House by mea2214 · · Score: 1

      Scott Pruitt didn't have olives for his martini.

  15. Re:In Chicago. Partially down here. by omnichad · · Score: 1

    Multihomed IPs that have alternate routes is probably the reason.

  16. l3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Its not just comcast, its a transport issue on the east coast between DCs

  17. Looks like it might be over by CaseCrash · · Score: 1

    Looks like it might be over

    https://www.cnet.com/news/comcast-confirms-nationwide-outage/

    --
    No, that link you posted to a web comic we've all seen a hundred times is not "obligatory."
    1. Re:Looks like it might be over by krray · · Score: 1

      LOL -- yeah, that site is down too.

  18. Re:It's the Russians by Train0987 · · Score: 1

    You really should get some help.

  19. Not in the US by sjbe · · Score: 1

    Obviously the world cup crashed the system.

    Not in the US it didn't. For better or worse few people here give a shit about the World Cup. We only care about events we can actually win. When we suck worse than Panama we pretend it doesn't matter.

    1. Re:Not in the US by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Pretend? Sports DON'T matter, unless you want them to. People get to choose how they waste their time.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    2. Re:Not in the US by careysub · · Score: 1

      I am not a "sports fan" of any description, but to claim that "sports don't matter" is only valid if you also make the claim that "entertainment of any form doesn't matter".

      --
      Starships were meant to fly, Hands up and touch the sky - Nicky Minaj
  20. Connection getting better by boilerbrown · · Score: 1

    Things are looking better now in Indiana.

    1. Re:Connection getting better by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      On the minus side - you’re still in Indiana.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
  21. DDOS? by wbr1 · · Score: 1
    I think this may have been a more general DDOS (seemingly on DNS infrstructure). I use comcast at work with google DNS and major sites were down all over. downdetector and digital attack map showed evidence of a massive DDOS too.

    I hate comcast but maybe this one is not on them (or just them).

    --
    Silence is a state of mime.
  22. Hit or miss in Chicago by krray · · Score: 1

    It's hit or miss in the Chicago area [suburb] today.
    Business Comcast line -- internal DNS used.

    First noticed when Liveleak wouldn't load.
    Slashdot was kind of loading, kind of not at that point.
    Most sites were up and working it appeared at that point.

    Then I started to get worried. I can't get to:
    American Express, Citibank, Bank of America, Chase, Discover, Barclays, CapitalOne, Amazon Credit (amazon.com proper is up).

    From my perspective most sites work (not all) if non-financial based. ALL financial sites are just gone.

  23. Re:It's the World Cup. by HornWumpus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Homer: I've watched thousands of hours of soccer, I almost saw a goal.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  24. just wait for the upsells with our gameing plan no by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    just wait for the upsells with our gaming plan* no caps on steam, gog, uplay, blizzard and more.

    *gameing plan requires entertainment TV or higher broadcast and rsn fees may apply

  25. Matters versus matters to you by sjbe · · Score: 1

    Pretend? Sports DON'T matter, unless you want them to. People get to choose how they waste their time.

    Sports DO matter and plenty of people want them to. It's an industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Millions of people make their livelihoods from sports. When over a billion people watch the same event it's pretty safe to say it matters. It might not matter to you but it does matter.

  26. Two fiber optic cables were cut by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Comcast has acknowledged that two of their fiber lines were cut. Comcast does not have an ETA on repairs nor is providing any information on how the lines were cut.

  27. Fiber cuts, other additional causes by theurge14 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Apparently Comcast backbone providers suffered at least two fiber cuts, specifically Level3 and Zayo.

    There's an interesting thread on Reddit with ongoing detail:

    https://www.reddit.com/r/sysad...

    1. Re:Fiber cuts, other additional causes by dgatwood · · Score: 2

      How does two fiber cuts take down something the size of Comcast? Two fiber cuts shouldn't even be enough to bring down your average college network, much less something that big. There should be hundreds of paths through their network, and the whole point of BGP is that single-digit numbers of failures shouldn't matter.

      My guess is one of two things is the case:

      • Comcast, in an effort to cut costs, is deliberately throttling some of their more expensive backup links, so that when one main link fails, the others are unable to take up the slack due to artificial bandwidth scarcity.
      • Comcast is incompetently running so close to the limits of their bandwidth that a single failure brings them to their knees (in which case if I owned any of their stock, I'd be selling it right now).

      Either one makes me wonder what the heck kind of two-bit operation they have going there.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  28. Re:just wait for the upsells with our gameing plan by Rick+Schumann · · Score: 1

    Nah they'll probably insert ads into all your games unless you buy the Premium Gamer Package, some robot NPC will follow you around and keep trying to sell you shit based on all the data they collect from scraping your emails and tracking your browsing habits.

  29. Re:It's the World Cup. by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 3, Funny

    Homer: I've watched thousands of hours of soccer, I almost saw a goal.

    As opposed to our game, which combines two great American things: violence and committee meetings.

  30. Good Timing by Skapare · · Score: 1

    I was watching news at the time and they were covering a Trump speech live, and it froze for a few seconds and went to loud snow for a couple seconds, then it came back on but with groups of lines shifted out of place frozen and silent. Then I scanned channels and everything but locals were either the same way or just frozen. A couple channels were all-black but they might have just been frozen while such a frame was on.

    --
    now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
  31. Re:good thing by Skapare · · Score: 1

    you mean all that expensive premium paper their contracts with unnamed partner were written on?

    --
    now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
  32. 811 by thegreatbob · · Score: 1

    Call before you dig. See subject. There need to be (my opinion, of course) exponentially escalating penalties for companies (and probably individuals) that fail to do so. Some grace is needed, because accidents do happen... but jeebus crisco, think about the economic impact of this sort of ineptitude.

    --
    There is no XUL, only WebExtensions...
  33. Not Affecting Me by laie_techie · · Score: 1

    I'm posting this now from my Comcast connection.

  34. Fuck-You-Bandwidth by Pezbian · · Score: 1

    Locally, we got sick enough of Comcast and Centurylink's shit to build our own fiber network "With Blackjack and Hookers".

    250/250 for $65 a month. 1000/1000 for $20 more.

    Comcast doorknockers come around and get laughed at. Fairplay after those assholes locked people in on shitty 2 year contracts just before entire neighborhoods lit their fibers. Cords got cut and the natives rejoiced.

    "Here! We'll give you 300/12 Internet and a shitty TV package for $150 and include free lube*!"

    * We reserve the right to switch to Tabasco sauce and sandpaper without notice.

    --
    In a world of the blind, the one-eyed man is king--and the two-eyed man is a heretic.
  35. A cable cut? by mspohr · · Score: 1

    This is a nationwide outage.
    How can a single cable failure cause this?
    I thought the Internet was supposed to route around damage.
    Something more seriously screwed up is going on.

    --
    I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
  36. U.S. football causes severe physical damage. by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    "violence"

    The violence of U.S. football causes SEVERE physical damage:

    CTE found in 99% of studied brains from deceased NFL players - CNN

    Ex-Pro Football Players Struggle With Health Problems - ABC News

    Health issues in American football - Wikipedia

  37. Other ISPs by Agripa · · Score: 1

    I am near St. Louis and Charter/Spectrum started having problems sometime last night.

  38. Re:It's the World Cup. by eric_harris_76 · · Score: 1

    He said "only more so". That how insidious it is.

    --
    There's no time like the present. Well, the past used to be.