Non Linux but network tech question

[Dan Jenkins]

On Thu, 14 Jun 2007, sean wrote:
>  Here is the problem. The local ISP they use, Comcast, gives them a
>  free connection, but the address is dynamic. When on that time the
>  address renews and is not the same, they link to the online catalog
>  cannot be reached. Looking it over the link is specified by an IP
>  address.

Steven W. Orr wrote:
>  My experience with rcn was also that they would let me keep the same
>  IP for about 9 months. It became moot when they shut off incoming 80
>  and outgoing 25. Now I keep the same address permanantly but I have
>  to pay an extra $20/m to do it, with the side effect that the two
>  ports are left open.

Which brings up the issue of blocked ports and allowable services on
Comcast. Comcast does not allow "servers" on their network. Some
segments of their network block ports 80 and/or 25 (this varies from
region to region and time to time). They have never blocked any alternate
ports (such as 8080), so, in addition to using DynDNS or ZoneEdit,
setting the library's web server to listen on an alternate port and use
that for the inbound links is a good idea. Even if it works now, it may
not in six months. Comcast will not be supportive to opening any
blocked ports. (I doubt the front line techs are even aware such
blocking happens from my experiences with them. Tier 1 just repeats
the "no servers" mantra.)