[HECnet] Cisco DECnet routers and NML

[Thomas DeBellis]

Where I used to live, I had three great ISP's to chose from, so I picked 
two for redundancy, the secondary being the static IP ISP below, whom I 
had also used in NYC (actually LIC).

But sometimes you don't have overall control where you wind up and now I 
'only' have two ISP's that ferociously compete; one being a lot more 
reasonable about IP addresses and port blocking. Let's say I was more 
fortunate than others.

If I ever move again (which I have mixed feelings about), connectivity 
will certainly be an important consideration.  I don't know how my wife 
would feel about no running water; Mrs. will have her baths...  On the 
other hand, she is almost as big a nerd as I am, so that conversation 
might be 'interesting'.  I guess if a sparkling river ran through the 
place and I told her I'd haul the water, she'd go for it.

Hauling water in the winter is tough; particularly if you happen to slip 
and fall in.  WOW!  You'd think the water was colder than the ice and 
snow.  I made it back to the house with two buckets pretty quick.

On 5/5/20 6:41 PM, Dave McGuire wrote:
> On 5/5/20 6:37 PM, Thomas DeBellis wrote:
>> Oh, there's hardly any need for such language; they'll pretty much do
>> what you want if you threaten them with payment.
>>
>> For residential offerings, which what Paul probably has, certain ports
>> are blocked for your 'benefit'; 25 being one of them for one of the
>> local carriers here.
>>
>> So naturally I called up and whined about it to be promptly referred the
>> commercial offerings department whose basic business model appears to be
>> "Bring your wallet".  But a lot less was done for you (or to you).
>    Yup.  But you get a real net connection.
>
>    What it has all become is repugnant, of course, but at least real
> connections are still available.
>
>> I only know of one carrier here who will let you do whatever you want;
>> but they're great--no DHCP nonsense: you get a static IP for the same
>> price.  I used them for years until I moved to an area where they didn't
>> have service.  Darn near broke my heart...
>    When I move (which is something I'll never do again), the first thing
> I check is availability of good connectivity.  Next is running water.
>
>    I can go to the store for water.  It's a lot harder for packets.
>
>               -Dave
>