Verizon (FiOS) (Off Topic?) I have it!

[Fred]

On Wednesday 18 January 2006 10:33, Jon maddog Hall wrote:
...
> So if you want to download music, etc. you can get the lower-cost DSL
> service.
>
> But if you want to run a business and have a web server...you pay.
>
> Just a guess, but an educated one.
>
> md

Just got set up with Fios, and I did call and grill them on the very point of 
the prohibition of running any server.

I've got an interesting reaction.

The person at Verizon Fios emphasized that what they meant is installing and 
running a "server class" computer at your home. I grilled her specifically 
about running a website off of a *workstation*, and she indicated to me that 
that would be perfectly OK, along with FTP, P2P, or anything else us geeks 
hold so dear.

So it seems to me that Bill is somewhat correct in stating that they simply 
don't want you becoming the next eBay or whatever. They don't want YOU, the 
consumer or residential guy becoming Ev1 or RackSpace on their lines.

Well, I do have some intentions of doing something similar. So I also 
inquired about sitting up a SONET ring, etc. off of that connection, and 
this is where the lights started going out with the person I spoke with. 
Basically I was told such things are *probably* possible, but would be "much 
more expensive", and that I would need to talk to a different department. 
Well yeah, I could've guess it would be "much more expensive". Duh. I just 
wanted ballpark dollar amount so I could see if it would fit in with my 
current operations. She could not give me that.

They have a few tiers of "business class" service, where you can get a static 
IP address and somewhat higher bandwidth, though it remains asymmetric.  
Best you can do  it seems is a 30mbit down/ 5mbit up.

Be that as it may, I am simply floored that Verizon was able to solve the 
"last mile" problem at all. They installed fibre right up to a box in my 
basement which converts the telephone and Internet connection to whatever 
needs to go across that fabric. They also went to great lengths with running 
CAT5 to my home office, fishing the cable through walls, and the like -- all 
for free. 

Also to my delight they took down the ugly mess of wires I had accumulated 
over the years with past frame-relay, ISDN, DSL, and multiple POTS phone 
lines running from the utility pole to my house. They were very professional 
and courteous and got the job *done*. A new leaf for Verizon service, 
considering what I experienced with them in the past.

It was even more to my delight to see that the Fios is *much faster* than my 
Comcast broadband connection. I will be happy to cut ties with Comcast 
completely once I am confident the Fios stuff is stable. Comcast gave me 
hell recently about having port 80 open on my line (I was running a test web 
server and left it open) as well as spooking me out about knowing I was 
running multiple ssh connections *on a different port other than 22* and 
some other things as well. What, they were monitoring my connection and 
sniffing my packets????? I am *so glad* my email goes out encrypted across 
an ssl connection between my workstations and my dedicated servers. Those 
clowns would probably be reading my email otherwise. Everything I do beyond 
web browsing goes out encrypted, even my NNTP newsgroup activities. Not that 
I am doing anything untoward; it is just that I don't want anyone other than 
the intended recipients reading my stuff! And since some of it is of a 
political nature, I remain especially concerned.

Just because I may be paranoid does not mean they are not out to get 
me!!!!!!!

Of course, I could set up a VPN and even my web browsing will be covered as 
well. Hmmm....

Not that I trust Verizon anymore than I do Comcast, but Comcast went out of 
their way to bother me about specific ports, forcing me to close them or 
else loose service. Since my Internet service *is* my bread and butter these 
days, I don't do well with threats like that. Verizon categorically stated 
they would not have any problems with such. 

Also, Verizon Fios will be costing me considerably less than Comcast. Comcast 
forces you to also have cable service which I have no interest in -- bloody 
nothing worth watching anymore, and the few times I do see something worth 
watching does not justify the cost. Besides I can download them with 
BitTorrent if I must.  Fios will be much cheaper, is much faster, and much 
more permissive in how you use the service despite the "boiler plate" 
language in their service contract. 

I am told by the technicians who installed the Fios that I am the 2nd person 
in my local neighborhood to have it, and apparently the first one "on the 
block", or street in my case. So I may be a bit smug about it. ;-)

Oh, and about the OS support: There is a "registration" process that requires 
IE on Windows, and apparently this is to set up your Verizon email and some 
other Internet services with Verizon that I have no interest in.  Since I 
run Linux on my workstation and forbid anyone else in my household from 
running IE, I did not go through this step. It turns out it is not necessary 
for the service. And I certainly don't want Verizon's spyware installed on 
any machine in my house!

Well, I don't know it's really spyware or not, but I am paranoid, recall? I 
am always extremely suspicious of software installs where none should be 
needed.

Verizon, for whatever the reason, is still gun-ho on PPPoE,  but since most 
routers of today can handle that, setup was not a problem. Also, they offer 
as a part of the deal a wireless router but I already had mine and was 
unwilling to use theirs. The tech told me that if there were ever any 
problems they may insist I hook theirs up for testing. Oh well. 

So I am very happy with my 5mbit down/ 2mbit up connection, and so far it's 
been very stable and very fast. Since I routinely transfer data to and from 
my home workstations and my laptop at Internet Cafes so I can actually get 
out of the house and smell the coffee with my development work,  the 2mbit 
up is quite nice, allowing me to run CVS much faster than before. 

The conversion box they installed in my basement required a electrical 
connection and it also has its own UPS. I found a convenient spot on the 
basement wall for them to hook this all up, and from there they ran a wire 
into my attic and down into my home office, which was nice of them.

Well, that's about it. I recommend going Fios and joining the 21st century 
with fibre for you Internet connection and phone service. Verizon also 
states, for you TV junkies, they will be offering TV service in the future 
on that fibre. I don't know much more than that and don't really care, but 
Crumcast had better watch out as they could be on their way out if Verizon 
keeps doing the right thing.

I also note that the techs that installed the service must not have been 
unionized, since they were actually *good* at what they did and was willing 
to go "the extra mile" to bring fibre the last mile to my home. 

- (A very happy) Fred, now a 21st century nerd.