[Watford] Watford Digest, Vol 234, Issue 1
Toby Deans
plumocelot at gmail.com
Fri Apr 12 12:48:09 UTC 2013
On 12 April 2013 13:00, <watford-request at mailman.lug.org.uk> wrote:
> Send Watford mailing list submissions to
> watford at mailman.lug.org.uk
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/watford
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> watford-request at mailman.lug.org.uk
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> watford-owner at mailman.lug.org.uk
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Watford digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. BT Openwoes issue (Alain Williams)
> 2. Re: BT Openwoes issue (Peter Grant)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:28:16 +0100
> From: Alain Williams <addw at phcomp.co.uk>
> To: Watford Linux Group <watford at mailman.lug.org.uk>
> Subject: [Watford] BT Openwoes issue
> Message-ID: <20130412102816.GO18279 at phcomp.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> You might find this tale interesting if you have any customers using BT as an ISP.
>
> I received a call on Weds PM (about 17.15) from a customer who often works at
> home connecting to the office PC using 'go to my PC'. He had lost connectivity,
> wanted to know 'if the Internet was down'.
>
> I could login to the Linux server (ssh) and ping his PC at the office.
> I was told that a couple of other home working co-workers were also similarly
> affected, at least one used a different service from 'go to my PC'.
>
> Next morning - the phone calls started at 7.45, so I went in. My ssh connection
> had stayed up all night - until they rebooted the router & firewall.
>
> Internally no problems. Servers OK[**]. They were receiving/sending email.
>
> I noticed that all external web site access timed out. Both from the Windows
> PCs and the Linux box ... unless you visited google; that worked, but search
> for something (worked) but clicking on any link timed out.
>
> No point in calling BT support - they would just blame internal infrastructure I thought.
>
> They have a smoothwall firewall/router. Find the passwords. Find that smoothwall
> has a packet trace facility.
>
> Telnet to google port 80. I see the SYN go out the SYN ACK come back ... great!
>
> Telnet to my web host port 80. I see several SYN go out, nothing back. Ssh to my
> web host, run tcpdump, no packets come from my customer. Try again on another
> web server - same result.
>
> I phone BT support - thinking that I would have an argument, how the hell do I
> explain this to a clueless support driod ?
>
> Long story short: the bill had been paid by cheque which BT had received but
> ''not allocated''. The bill was due the day before.
>
> So: with a BT ''accounting issue'' they allow all services through except web
> (port 80)[&&], but allow web to google. There had been no email, no phone call.
> I think of pubs/coffee_shops/... where when you connect you are forced to a sign
> in page that asks you some details -- surely BT could have done something like
> that ?
>
> After speaking to someone in the Philippines (or somewhere) service was switched
> back on in 10 seconds.
>
> Summary my customer lost 3/4 day work for several staff who could not do things;
> will have to pay for a chunk of my time ... the MD was not a happy bunny. He has
> asked for recommendation of another ISP.
>
> You have been warned.
>
>
>
>
>
> [**] A Linux & a MS SBS 2011 server. Their MS windows support company recently
> withdrew their services blaming a Linux server making their work too hard. I do
> wonder about them, a year ago on a server upgrade they could not get MS Exchange
> to send email out of the building - so asked me to handle outgoing email on the
> Linux box -- which I did easily.
>
> [&&] I did not check if https (port 443) was still working.
>
> --
> Alain Williams
> Linux/GNU Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT Lecturer.
> +44 (0) 787 668 0256 http://www.phcomp.co.uk/
> Parliament Hill Computers Ltd. Registration Information: http://www.phcomp.co.uk/contact.php
> #include <std_disclaimer.h>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:37:20 +0100
> From: Peter Grant <grantpe at gmail.com>
> To: Watford Linux Group <watford at mailman.lug.org.uk>
> Subject: Re: [Watford] BT Openwoes issue
> Message-ID:
> <CANMhRru-p+NtbvOBxyynNG7efAfqq6dhp8_sRyBOqXyUitwTBA at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> I have to say that so many ISP have the most retarted policies on payment,
> so I'm not suprised.
> I know some charge extra to pay by cheque or simply don't allow it - which
> is fair enough in this age of internet backing etc.
> However, when dealing with Be There's business section, I did expect to be
> able to pay by direct debit - expect they can only take direct debits for
> personal named back accounts and not from business accounts. Their only
> other option for payment was to keep credit card details on file and charge
> it monthly.
> Peter
>
> "When you have a Swiss Army knife of a mind, everything looks like it
> should be dismantled." Danny O'Brien/Merlin Mann
>
>
> On 12 April 2013 11:28, Alain Williams <addw at phcomp.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> You might find this tale interesting if you have any customers using BT as
>> an ISP.
>>
>> I received a call on Weds PM (about 17.15) from a customer who often works
>> at
>> home connecting to the office PC using 'go to my PC'. He had lost
>> connectivity,
>> wanted to know 'if the Internet was down'.
>>
>> I could login to the Linux server (ssh) and ping his PC at the office.
>> I was told that a couple of other home working co-workers were also
>> similarly
>> affected, at least one used a different service from 'go to my PC'.
>>
>> Next morning - the phone calls started at 7.45, so I went in. My ssh
>> connection
>> had stayed up all night - until they rebooted the router & firewall.
>>
>> Internally no problems. Servers OK[**]. They were receiving/sending email.
>>
>> I noticed that all external web site access timed out. Both from the
>> Windows
>> PCs and the Linux box ... unless you visited google; that worked, but
>> search
>> for something (worked) but clicking on any link timed out.
>>
>> No point in calling BT support - they would just blame internal
>> infrastructure I thought.
>>
>> They have a smoothwall firewall/router. Find the passwords. Find that
>> smoothwall
>> has a packet trace facility.
>>
>> Telnet to google port 80. I see the SYN go out the SYN ACK come back ...
>> great!
>>
>> Telnet to my web host port 80. I see several SYN go out, nothing back. Ssh
>> to my
>> web host, run tcpdump, no packets come from my customer. Try again on
>> another
>> web server - same result.
>>
>> I phone BT support - thinking that I would have an argument, how the hell
>> do I
>> explain this to a clueless support driod ?
>>
>> Long story short: the bill had been paid by cheque which BT had received
>> but
>> ''not allocated''. The bill was due the day before.
>>
>> So: with a BT ''accounting issue'' they allow all services through except
>> web
>> (port 80)[&&], but allow web to google. There had been no email, no phone
>> call.
>> I think of pubs/coffee_shops/... where when you connect you are forced to
>> a sign
>> in page that asks you some details -- surely BT could have done something
>> like
>> that ?
>>
>> After speaking to someone in the Philippines (or somewhere) service was
>> switched
>> back on in 10 seconds.
>>
>> Summary my customer lost 3/4 day work for several staff who could not do
>> things;
>> will have to pay for a chunk of my time ... the MD was not a happy bunny.
>> He has
>> asked for recommendation of another ISP.
>>
>> You have been warned.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> [**] A Linux & a MS SBS 2011 server. Their MS windows support company
>> recently
>> withdrew their services blaming a Linux server making their work too hard.
>> I do
>> wonder about them, a year ago on a server upgrade they could not get MS
>> Exchange
>> to send email out of the building - so asked me to handle outgoing email
>> on the
>> Linux box -- which I did easily.
>>
>> [&&] I did not check if https (port 443) was still working.
>>
>> --
>> Alain Williams
>> Linux/GNU Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT
>> Lecturer.
>> +44 (0) 787 668 0256 http://www.phcomp.co.uk/
>> Parliament Hill Computers Ltd. Registration Information:
>> http://www.phcomp.co.uk/contact.php
>> #include <std_disclaimer.h>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Watford mailing list
>> Watford at mailman.lug.org.uk
>> https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/watford
>>
> -------------- next part --------------
> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> URL: <http://mailman.lug.org.uk/pipermail/watford/attachments/20130412/c47029c8/attachment-0001.html>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Watford mailing list
> Watford at mailman.lug.org.uk
> https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/watford
>
>
> End of Watford Digest, Vol 234, Issue 1
> ***************************************
That's nothing compared to my experience with Virgin Media. One summer
I managed to cut through my broadband cable that they had poorly
installed at the front of my house with a hedge trimmer.
After my wife had finished drying her eyes from laughing at my
distress and anger I tried calling Virgin support.
- Hello, I'd like to book an engineer to repair a broken cable connection.
- What is the fault sir?
- I have no internet connection.
- What can you see on your computer screen?
- Very little. As I have just said, the broadband cable has been severed.
- Can you tell me what error codes you have recieved?
- The error code is that I have cut through the broadband cable with
a hedge trimmer. As your engineers decided to use a long length of
cable it can be repaired easily,
- The next engineer available is in four weeks,
- Four weeks!
Cue one trip to Maplins. Self tapping Co-ax connector (70p). Problem fixed.
Toby
--
Reality is only temporary
On 12 April 2013 13:00, <watford-request at mailman.lug.org.uk> wrote:
> Send Watford mailing list submissions to
> watford at mailman.lug.org.uk
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/watford
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> watford-request at mailman.lug.org.uk
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> watford-owner at mailman.lug.org.uk
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Watford digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. BT Openwoes issue (Alain Williams)
> 2. Re: BT Openwoes issue (Peter Grant)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:28:16 +0100
> From: Alain Williams <addw at phcomp.co.uk>
> To: Watford Linux Group <watford at mailman.lug.org.uk>
> Subject: [Watford] BT Openwoes issue
> Message-ID: <20130412102816.GO18279 at phcomp.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> You might find this tale interesting if you have any customers using BT as an ISP.
>
> I received a call on Weds PM (about 17.15) from a customer who often works at
> home connecting to the office PC using 'go to my PC'. He had lost connectivity,
> wanted to know 'if the Internet was down'.
>
> I could login to the Linux server (ssh) and ping his PC at the office.
> I was told that a couple of other home working co-workers were also similarly
> affected, at least one used a different service from 'go to my PC'.
>
> Next morning - the phone calls started at 7.45, so I went in. My ssh connection
> had stayed up all night - until they rebooted the router & firewall.
>
> Internally no problems. Servers OK[**]. They were receiving/sending email.
>
> I noticed that all external web site access timed out. Both from the Windows
> PCs and the Linux box ... unless you visited google; that worked, but search
> for something (worked) but clicking on any link timed out.
>
> No point in calling BT support - they would just blame internal infrastructure I thought.
>
> They have a smoothwall firewall/router. Find the passwords. Find that smoothwall
> has a packet trace facility.
>
> Telnet to google port 80. I see the SYN go out the SYN ACK come back ... great!
>
> Telnet to my web host port 80. I see several SYN go out, nothing back. Ssh to my
> web host, run tcpdump, no packets come from my customer. Try again on another
> web server - same result.
>
> I phone BT support - thinking that I would have an argument, how the hell do I
> explain this to a clueless support driod ?
>
> Long story short: the bill had been paid by cheque which BT had received but
> ''not allocated''. The bill was due the day before.
>
> So: with a BT ''accounting issue'' they allow all services through except web
> (port 80)[&&], but allow web to google. There had been no email, no phone call.
> I think of pubs/coffee_shops/... where when you connect you are forced to a sign
> in page that asks you some details -- surely BT could have done something like
> that ?
>
> After speaking to someone in the Philippines (or somewhere) service was switched
> back on in 10 seconds.
>
> Summary my customer lost 3/4 day work for several staff who could not do things;
> will have to pay for a chunk of my time ... the MD was not a happy bunny. He has
> asked for recommendation of another ISP.
>
> You have been warned.
>
>
>
>
>
> [**] A Linux & a MS SBS 2011 server. Their MS windows support company recently
> withdrew their services blaming a Linux server making their work too hard. I do
> wonder about them, a year ago on a server upgrade they could not get MS Exchange
> to send email out of the building - so asked me to handle outgoing email on the
> Linux box -- which I did easily.
>
> [&&] I did not check if https (port 443) was still working.
>
> --
> Alain Williams
> Linux/GNU Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT Lecturer.
> +44 (0) 787 668 0256 http://www.phcomp.co.uk/
> Parliament Hill Computers Ltd. Registration Information: http://www.phcomp.co.uk/contact.php
> #include <std_disclaimer.h>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:37:20 +0100
> From: Peter Grant <grantpe at gmail.com>
> To: Watford Linux Group <watford at mailman.lug.org.uk>
> Subject: Re: [Watford] BT Openwoes issue
> Message-ID:
> <CANMhRru-p+NtbvOBxyynNG7efAfqq6dhp8_sRyBOqXyUitwTBA at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> I have to say that so many ISP have the most retarted policies on payment,
> so I'm not suprised.
> I know some charge extra to pay by cheque or simply don't allow it - which
> is fair enough in this age of internet backing etc.
> However, when dealing with Be There's business section, I did expect to be
> able to pay by direct debit - expect they can only take direct debits for
> personal named back accounts and not from business accounts. Their only
> other option for payment was to keep credit card details on file and charge
> it monthly.
> Peter
>
> "When you have a Swiss Army knife of a mind, everything looks like it
> should be dismantled." Danny O'Brien/Merlin Mann
>
>
> On 12 April 2013 11:28, Alain Williams <addw at phcomp.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> You might find this tale interesting if you have any customers using BT as
>> an ISP.
>>
>> I received a call on Weds PM (about 17.15) from a customer who often works
>> at
>> home connecting to the office PC using 'go to my PC'. He had lost
>> connectivity,
>> wanted to know 'if the Internet was down'.
>>
>> I could login to the Linux server (ssh) and ping his PC at the office.
>> I was told that a couple of other home working co-workers were also
>> similarly
>> affected, at least one used a different service from 'go to my PC'.
>>
>> Next morning - the phone calls started at 7.45, so I went in. My ssh
>> connection
>> had stayed up all night - until they rebooted the router & firewall.
>>
>> Internally no problems. Servers OK[**]. They were receiving/sending email.
>>
>> I noticed that all external web site access timed out. Both from the
>> Windows
>> PCs and the Linux box ... unless you visited google; that worked, but
>> search
>> for something (worked) but clicking on any link timed out.
>>
>> No point in calling BT support - they would just blame internal
>> infrastructure I thought.
>>
>> They have a smoothwall firewall/router. Find the passwords. Find that
>> smoothwall
>> has a packet trace facility.
>>
>> Telnet to google port 80. I see the SYN go out the SYN ACK come back ...
>> great!
>>
>> Telnet to my web host port 80. I see several SYN go out, nothing back. Ssh
>> to my
>> web host, run tcpdump, no packets come from my customer. Try again on
>> another
>> web server - same result.
>>
>> I phone BT support - thinking that I would have an argument, how the hell
>> do I
>> explain this to a clueless support driod ?
>>
>> Long story short: the bill had been paid by cheque which BT had received
>> but
>> ''not allocated''. The bill was due the day before.
>>
>> So: with a BT ''accounting issue'' they allow all services through except
>> web
>> (port 80)[&&], but allow web to google. There had been no email, no phone
>> call.
>> I think of pubs/coffee_shops/... where when you connect you are forced to
>> a sign
>> in page that asks you some details -- surely BT could have done something
>> like
>> that ?
>>
>> After speaking to someone in the Philippines (or somewhere) service was
>> switched
>> back on in 10 seconds.
>>
>> Summary my customer lost 3/4 day work for several staff who could not do
>> things;
>> will have to pay for a chunk of my time ... the MD was not a happy bunny.
>> He has
>> asked for recommendation of another ISP.
>>
>> You have been warned.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> [**] A Linux & a MS SBS 2011 server. Their MS windows support company
>> recently
>> withdrew their services blaming a Linux server making their work too hard.
>> I do
>> wonder about them, a year ago on a server upgrade they could not get MS
>> Exchange
>> to send email out of the building - so asked me to handle outgoing email
>> on the
>> Linux box -- which I did easily.
>>
>> [&&] I did not check if https (port 443) was still working.
>>
>> --
>> Alain Williams
>> Linux/GNU Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer, IT
>> Lecturer.
>> +44 (0) 787 668 0256 http://www.phcomp.co.uk/
>> Parliament Hill Computers Ltd. Registration Information:
>> http://www.phcomp.co.uk/contact.php
>> #include <std_disclaimer.h>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Watford mailing list
>> Watford at mailman.lug.org.uk
>> https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/watford
>>
> -------------- next part --------------
> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
> URL: <http://mailman.lug.org.uk/pipermail/watford/attachments/20130412/c47029c8/attachment-0001.html>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Watford mailing list
> Watford at mailman.lug.org.uk
> https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/watford
>
>
> End of Watford Digest, Vol 234, Issue 1
> ***************************************
--
Reality is only temporary
More information about the Watford
mailing list