Comcast blocks port 25 incoming, yet again

Jerry Feldman gaf at blu.org
Fri May 2 09:47:45 EDT 2008


On Thu, 1 May 2008 15:28:28 -0400 (EDT)
"John Abreau" <jabr at blu.org> wrote:

> I have a DSL connection with a modem that is designed to allow only
> a single machine to access it. It worked fine with MacOS when I first
> installed it, but it didn't work with Linux until I discovered that
> it authorizes a machine when that machine uses the DSL modem to
> resolve a DNS query.
> 
> Tech support was completely useless, and I only found out about it
> when I listed all the differences in network configurations between
> the Mac and the Linux box and then experimented with the results.


So, while this has nothing to do with Comcast, how did you eventually
resolve it? Are you using Linux as a router? Additionally, Comcast's
predecessors, Continental CableVison initially would use the PC's MAC
address the first time you provisioned. As a result, if you changed
your NIC card or computer, you needed to call tech support to update
the provisioning. They stopped this somewhere between MediaOne and
ATTBI. I don't know what policies other ISP's have.  I generally clone
my MAC address into my router, but that is kind of unnecessary now.
The cable modem does store the MAC address, but that can be cleared
when you power down the cable modem. 

Secondly, most level 1 tech support people are not highly technically
knowledgeable. They generally answer questions from a cookbook. So,
when you call, you might get someone totally clueless or sometimes
someone who has some technical knowledge. I've also found that some of
the more technically knowledgeable people are the ones from India. In
most cases, your best bet is to try to elevate it up to level 2 or
higher where you do get a tech with some technical expertise. 

-- 
--
Jerry Feldman <gaf at blu.org>
Boston Linux and Unix
PGP key id: 537C5846
PGP Key fingerprint: 3D1B 8377 A3C0 A5F2 ECBB  CA3B 4607 4319 537C 5846
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