Re: Static IPs

["John J. Boyer" <director@chpi.org>]

Hello,
For people who aren't running Web servers dynamic IP's are an advantage,
since they make the hacker's job harder. Our DSL service from TDS Metgrocom
uses DHCP.
John

Computers to Help People, Inc.
http://www.chpi.org
825 East Johnson; Madison, WI 53703


----- Original Message -----
From: "Henry Yen" <blinux-mail@AegisInfoSys.com>
To: <blinux-list@redhat.com>
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2001 17:17
Subject: Re: Static IPs


> On Fri, Sep 07, 2001 at 01:38:57AM -0700, Karl Dahlke wrote:
> > Someone described a pseudo-always-on dsl connection from Ameritech,
> > wherein the company drops you if you're not busy,
> > and you wake up with a new ip address.
> > What a frightening thought.
>
> I suppose, but that's the class of service you're paying for (a high-speed
> replacement for a modem dial-up).  The service normally afforded to
> "home" users doesn't normally allow one to run servers, so having a
> static IP address (which wasn't normally available under dial-up
> plans, either) isn't an issue.  If you want to be able to host
> servers with static IP addresses, you need to purchase "business"-class
> services.
>
> That said, there are, in fact, many providers who will sell you "home"
> DSL service with a static IP address.
>
> > I've just started hosting my own web site, on my own machine,
> > and I don't know why I didn't take the plunge long ago.
> > It's easy, and it's fun.
>
> Yes, although I would like to point out that most home-based
> web sites often have much, much poorer security than a web
> hosting company, and in that regard contribute significantly
> to various network floods and attacks (cable service users are
> probably the worst).  Web hosting companies will sell you
> your own web site which has a static IP, multiple very-high-speed
> and redundant internet connections, power backup, etc., all at
> a very cheap price (less than $20/month).  There are also various
> providers (geocities, etc.) which will give you a website for "free".
> Most all of these (free and non-free) come with easy-to-use
> website management and monitoring software as well.
>
> That said, there is a significant educational benefit in
> running a server system at home.
>
> > There are numerous advantages, and a couple disadvantages.
> > Well anyways, it would be unthinkable if I had such a terrible isp.
> > I certainly can't reprogram all the name servers on the internet
> > every time they decide to give me a new ip address.
>
> There are several "dynamic DNS" providers (many non-free but cheap, and
> a few that are free) which will allow you to make more-or-less
> real-time DNS changes on-line.  This kind of service will mostly
> take care of the dynamic IP address problem.
>
> There is also a service called "URL forwarding" which also eliminates
> the problem by assigning a static IP, but invisibly re-directing
> to/from the server (dynamic IP address or not) of your choice (a two-way
> proxy, so to speak).  I'm not sure if there's anybody doing that
> for free, but again it's available cheap (a few dollars a month).
>
> > The cable at-home service doesn't work like that,
> > and I have nothing but good things to say about them.
>
> I doubt that their terms of service have much to say regarding how
> the service is provided (e.g., static IP address), and they
> will no doubt change it in the future, anyway.
>
> > They even tried to help me set up,
> > knowing that I was on Linux.
> > That's pretty rare.
>
> Yes, but less so as time goes by.
>
> > Getting back to the IPs;
> > one day we lost the bill, or it got lost in the mail, or whatever,
> > and I was behind, so they turned off the service.
> > I called with my credit card to turn it back on and asked,
> > please please please,
> > can I have my old ip back again.
> > "Sure, we've been saving it for you."
> > Now that's class,
> > and its certainly important to those of us who are hosting our own
sites.
>
> You shouldn't count on it, as it will eventually change; also,
unfortunately,
> your experience is far from universal.
>
> --
> Henry Yen <henry@AegisInfoSys.com>              Aegis Information Systems,
Inc.
> Senior Systems Programmer                       Hicksville, New York
>
>
>
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