Re: Uncle Sam Wants YOU!

["Jim Roland" <jroland@roland.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jesse Pollard" <pollard@tomcat.admin.navo.hpc.mil>
To: <jroland@roland.net>; <jesse@cats-chateau.net>; <kmw@rowsw.com>; "J
Sloan" <jjs@mirai.cx>
Cc: <linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org>
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 10:09 AM
Subject: Re: Uncle Sam Wants YOU!


> "Jim Roland" <jroland@roland.net>:
> > From: "Jesse Pollard" <jesse@cats-chateau.net>
> > To: <kmw@rowsw.com>; "Kurt Maxwell Weber" <kmw@rowsw.com>; "J Sloan"
> > <jjs@mirai.cx>
> > Cc: <linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2001 3:03 PM
> > Subject: Re: Uncle Sam Wants YOU!
> >
> >
> > [snip]
> > > >In that case, I have the following options:
> > > >1) Start my own ISP
> > >
> > > Only if the upstream provider doesn't require you to use windows.
> > >
> > > >2) Use Windows XP
> > > >3) Not use Windows XP and not be able to use my current ISP
> > > >4) Go to a different ISP
> > >
> > > You may not be able to find another. It took me a year. I gave up. I
was
> > > fortunate that Verio doesn't care what you have... though if you use
> > > the dialup or basic dsl, MS is it, or no real support.
> > >
> > > >I'll just have to decide which I value more.  As long as I won't be
> > killed
> > > >for using a different OS, I still have a choice.
> > >
> > > No, but you might be forced out of a job.
> >
> > In one of the large metro areas in which I live, there are a LOT of ISPs
> > that do not require you to use Windows, but will not support you beyond
the
> > IP layer if you don't.  Use linux, install PPP with MS-CHAPv2 (with or
> > without MPPE) for your dialup connection and it works just fine on a
> > Winblows-only ISP.  DSL or Cable, just acquire your actual IP settings
> > program a Linksys router/hub box and be done with it.
>
> Better re-read the fine print on the "fair-use" statement. BOTH DSL and
> Cable, or dialup (New Orleans at least) will disconnect you if you run ANY
> unattended operation (if they determine it IS unattended). No daemon
services.
> No routing/NAT (unless they do it). No remote login. No mail. DHCP
reconfig
> between 4 and 8 hours (or whenever they choose to).
>
> They will let you plug in, but will not provide any support (even TCP/IP
is
> not assured).
>

TCP/IP is assured, in the case of my @Home service, they provide me with the
transport layer and settings (IP, subnet, etc) but no software support.
That is a provider choice, and I have no problem with it.  Microsoft does
not (and will never) control the transport layer.  Doing so will kill Cisco
routers, etc.  Being an ISP myself, there is absolutely nothing Microsoft
can say or do to force me to support only them.  If XP clients don't work
with my service, give someone a little while and there will be a plug-in or
patch that allows XP to run with standard service.  As I said, they can do
nothing for force me to move over to only Microsoft support.  I am Linux,
and I'm only a small-guy.