Stupid server semantic argument (was: Non Linux but network tech question)

Travis Roy travis at scootz.net
Tue Jun 19 17:23:38 EDT 2007


>
>   I'm not a big fan of Comcast's "no servers" policy either, but I do
> understand it.  Even if someone thinks Comcast is the Great Satan,
> "Know thy enemy" would seem to be a good strategy.  Setting up
> straw-man arguments about how "FTP listens for connections, so it's a
> server too, and they allow that" is just bogus.  That's not what they
> mean, and just about everybody understands that.
>
>   Comcast does not want people providing content and services on their
> feeds.  They don't want to build their network to support it, they
> don't want the tech support burden, and they don't want the legal
> complications.  Comcast wants people sucking down mass content like
> good little drones.  Preferably broadcast and pay-per-view (best
> profit margin).  It's that frelling simple.  The direction of the TCP
> SYN packets is irrelevant.
>
>   Stop fighting the wrong battle.
>

The original post was about a local library. I know when I was  
working at the local public access channel in Goffstown the cable  
committee for the town had an agreement with (then) MediaOne to offer  
higher speed access (than a normal customer) to the schools, the town  
hall, and the library. There was also other provisions with regard to  
access and feeds back to the TV Station for live broadcast. That may  
be something the original poster might want to check into. Even if  
they do give it the okay as an exception it may be easier for the  
original poster to do some kind of port work around so that Comcast  
doesn't have to make some weird exception for one modem on the node.

Truth is that there are exceptions to every rule (and every AUP).  
Some people may have different ones that what you care to assume.  
There also might be other legit reasons that somebody might be asking  
about this work around.

While I can kind of agree with Ben when it came to the whole torrent  
debate with downloading TV shows are movies, this is totally  
different as each AUP is different between companies, and indeed  
between towns, since an individual town/city creates their own  
contract with the cable company that may have exceptions to the broad  
AUP in place for most people.

Comcast can enforce their own AUP, they don't need you doing it for  
them.


> -- Ben
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