Reality is that it's the Internet. Unless you put controls on your site, you don't have any control or say over who can access it when, or how often.
If you choose to host on a metered service and you don't have a budget for spikes, then it is your responsibility to meter your website. Have your web server stop serving pages after you have meet your budget. You signed the contract with your ISP, it is your responsibility.
If your web site isn't really public, then put a password on it.
We are talking about creating a new protocol for sending and receiving mail. For this work everyone on the Internet will have to use the new protocol. Since not everyone will move to the new protocol, there will have to be a bridge between the new and the old. As long as a bridge exists (forever) there will be the problem of non-paying senders.
It sounds like we are talking about installing a lock in the bios. This lock will prevent the machine from booting without the proper keys. This lock will also be a bit smarter then a physical lock, it will be able to answer the question when the operating system asks: "Yes, I was unlocked by the right key."
My questions are:
Who owns the keys?
How much do the keys cost?
How much will it cost to verify another user's key? (Will this be a subscription service?)
When whoever owns the keys decides they don't like me or what I am doing, can they turn the keys off?
What happens when the lock breaks or gets frozen in the winter?
Make sure that whatever you do, you have tested your restore process and done so recently. A backup that can't be read is actually worse then no backup at all. If you have no backup then you don't have the comfy feeling of thinking you have a backup.
When you test your restore, be sure you test it on a machine and tape drive other then the one you used to create the backup. Tape drives easily fall out of alignment. An out of alignment tape drive will generate an out of alignment tape. A mis-aligned tape may work fine in the drive that created it, but may not be readable on any other tape drive. This does you no good if the only tape drive that can read the tape is in a melted ruin.
If you are in a Microsoft network environment or any other environment that uses a central security or configuration database, (domain controller, directory server, etc.) don't forget to have a backup plan for that as well. Recovering the data is only part of the battle; you also have to recover the logins, security rights, and all other configuration aspects of your network.
Did you remember to store a copy of the install media and license codes for your backup software at your off-site location along with your backup media? How about written copies of your hardware and software configurations?
As others have noted, a safe-deposit box at a bank not too physically close to your computers is an economical option. I use this option for my home network. A down side to this is you can only get to your backup media during the bank's operating hours. If you need better access, a professional off-site storage company may be a better option. Many will pick up, deliver, and manage rotations for you.
Finally, don't forget that there are other things then fire and flood and natural disasters that can keep you from your physical equipment. Your data may be safe on your servers, but you might not be able to get to your servers if there is a chemical spill, civil unrest, or some other police action happening between you and your equipment.
A lot of the discussion here seems to resolve around the issues of the RIAA, our rights, their rights, how could they?, I am gonna do xxx to get around this, etc.
The real reason around this particular ISP is wanting to block or reduce uploads may actually be cost.
My ISP (DSL-Only) told me that their upstream providers charge them by the amount of data they upload. The more upstream bandwidth they are allocated, the more it costs them. Download bandwidth does not have as a significant impact on their cost.
My ISP (and I think most others) compensate by weighting the upload cost more heavily then the download cost to their customers. My ISP charges the following for bandwidth: (These numbers don't include the phone company charge for the DSL circuit, just the ISP portion.)
Note that at the two options where the prices are the same the different amount of bandwidth you get is not symmetrical (at $27 you get a delta of 1160K down and 256K up, and at $48 you get a delta of 760K down and 400K up.)
Perhaps the motive of the ISP in question is simple economics: If they discourage uploads then they reduce their upstream costs, and can make more money or pass the savings on.
As a side note, my ISP rocks. They don't block any ports; they don't have any usage restrictions (other then you have to be legal, and can't resell bandwidth with a residential account); I always get the full bandwidth I pay for; they offer static addresses and routable subnets; and they are a small, independent company. Imagine that.
Even people expressing "anti-capitalist" views can fail to comprehend or apply the effort needed to avoid using heavily licensed corporate software, even though a viable community alternative is presented in a learning environment with on hand human support.
I found this comment most interesting and telling.
It seems that in a situation as ideally suited for open software and an open environment such as described, the audience would be eager to learn and use what is available. This comment suggests otherwise. Depressing. It seems that we have a long road and a long haul ahead.
When the technology company I used to work for was in the process of significant staff reduction, (several offices were closed) we were presented with severance contracts. They had the basic "you won't sue us and we will pay you your severance agreement." Other then losing my job, I didn't have any other beef with the company and had no reason to sue; that and wanting the cash lead me to sign the contract. Story neutral so far.
The contract also had an interesting statement that said that the severance agreement superceded any and all other prior agreements, written or otherwise. This, of course, means that any any and all prior agreements were null and void, including any intellectual property agreements. Darn.
The concept that by retrofitting you could magically erase 102K miles. (Yeah, the truth was in the detailed description, thus the bait and switch subject line.
Poking fun at the idea of adding another 80K miles for a total life expectancy of 182.8K on an escort.
Poster forgot to use preview and also forgot to put in a couple of line break tags.
Should have been formatted:
Only 880 miles on it? (Ignore the 102K behind the curtain.)
Seller is suggesting that an escort will run for 182K miles? Yeah.
What really matters as these large companies battle over who "owns" the Internet is not the content and programming provided, nor the method of how this content is provided to customers.
What really matters is what restrictions are placed on customers (our) ability to be our own content provider and publish information back to other users.
Most of the cable providers place restrictions (either technically or by policy) on hosting any services.
By doing this, the providers are trying to change the Internet from being a network (two way) into being a content delivery system (one way.)
This is the real danger.
Slashdot Mirror
Reality is that it's the Internet. Unless you put controls on your site, you don't have any control or say over who can access it when, or how often. If you choose to host on a metered service and you don't have a budget for spikes, then it is your responsibility to meter your website. Have your web server stop serving pages after you have meet your budget. You signed the contract with your ISP, it is your responsibility. If your web site isn't really public, then put a password on it.
We are talking about creating a new protocol for sending and receiving mail. For this work everyone on the Internet will have to use the new protocol. Since not everyone will move to the new protocol, there will have to be a bridge between the new and the old. As long as a bridge exists (forever) there will be the problem of non-paying senders.
My questions are:
Who owns the keys?
How much do the keys cost?
How much will it cost to verify another user's key? (Will this be a subscription service?)
When whoever owns the keys decides they don't like me or what I am doing, can they turn the keys off?
What happens when the lock breaks or gets frozen in the winter?
Hello my name is _______ and I play SWG...
When you test your restore, be sure you test it on a machine and tape drive other then the one you used to create the backup. Tape drives easily fall out of alignment. An out of alignment tape drive will generate an out of alignment tape. A mis-aligned tape may work fine in the drive that created it, but may not be readable on any other tape drive. This does you no good if the only tape drive that can read the tape is in a melted ruin.
If you are in a Microsoft network environment or any other environment that uses a central security or configuration database, (domain controller, directory server, etc.) don't forget to have a backup plan for that as well. Recovering the data is only part of the battle; you also have to recover the logins, security rights, and all other configuration aspects of your network.
Did you remember to store a copy of the install media and license codes for your backup software at your off-site location along with your backup media? How about written copies of your hardware and software configurations?
As others have noted, a safe-deposit box at a bank not too physically close to your computers is an economical option. I use this option for my home network. A down side to this is you can only get to your backup media during the bank's operating hours. If you need better access, a professional off-site storage company may be a better option. Many will pick up, deliver, and manage rotations for you.
Finally, don't forget that there are other things then fire and flood and natural disasters that can keep you from your physical equipment. Your data may be safe on your servers, but you might not be able to get to your servers if there is a chemical spill, civil unrest, or some other police action happening between you and your equipment.
The real reason around this particular ISP is wanting to block or reduce uploads may actually be cost.
My ISP (DSL-Only) told me that their upstream providers charge them by the amount of data they upload. The more upstream bandwidth they are allocated, the more it costs them. Download bandwidth does not have as a significant impact on their cost. My ISP (and I think most others) compensate by weighting the upload cost more heavily then the download cost to their customers. My ISP charges the following for bandwidth: (These numbers don't include the phone company charge for the DSL circuit, just the ISP portion.) Note that at the two options where the prices are the same the different amount of bandwidth you get is not symmetrical (at $27 you get a delta of 1160K down and 256K up, and at $48 you get a delta of 760K down and 400K up.)
Perhaps the motive of the ISP in question is simple economics: If they discourage uploads then they reduce their upstream costs, and can make more money or pass the savings on.
As a side note, my ISP rocks. They don't block any ports; they don't have any usage restrictions (other then you have to be legal, and can't resell bandwidth with a residential account); I always get the full bandwidth I pay for; they offer static addresses and routable subnets; and they are a small, independent company. Imagine that.
And what happens when you get incorrectly marked as a terrorist when you are not? Your life becomes basically over.
When the technology company I used to work for was in the process of significant staff reduction, (several offices were closed) we were presented with severance contracts. They had the basic "you won't sue us and we will pay you your severance agreement." Other then losing my job, I didn't have any other beef with the company and had no reason to sue; that and wanting the cash lead me to sign the contract. Story neutral so far. The contract also had an interesting statement that said that the severance agreement superceded any and all other prior agreements, written or otherwise. This, of course, means that any any and all prior agreements were null and void, including any intellectual property agreements. Darn.
Poster forgot to use preview and also forgot to put in a couple of line break tags. Should have been formatted:
Just what is the air speed limit for extremely low flying craft?
Only 880 miles on it? (Ignore the 102K behind the curtain.) Seller is suggesting that an escort will run for 182K miles? Yeah. Does look cool though.
Swipe your badge? No Way, dude.
Dance the right steps? You are in!
Combine security and corporate fitness all in one...
What really matters as these large companies battle over who "owns" the Internet is not the content and programming provided, nor the method of how this content is provided to customers. What really matters is what restrictions are placed on customers (our) ability to be our own content provider and publish information back to other users. Most of the cable providers place restrictions (either technically or by policy) on hosting any services. By doing this, the providers are trying to change the Internet from being a network (two way) into being a content delivery system (one way.) This is the real danger.