From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Sun Jul 11 01:34:41 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id AFDDA16A51A for ; Sun, 11 Jul 2004 01:34:38 +0000 (GMT) Received: from goose.mail.pas.earthlink.net (goose.mail.pas.earthlink.net [207.217.120.18]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 99C4243D41 for ; Sun, 11 Jul 2004 01:34:38 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from rperry4@earthlink.net) Received: from dialup-4.250.48.24.dial1.weehawken1.level3.net ([4.250.48.24]) by goose.mail.pas.earthlink.net with esmtp (Exim 3.33 #1) id 1BjTEj-0000Rt-00 for freebsd-questions@freebsd.org; Sat, 10 Jul 2004 18:34:37 -0700 Message-ID: <40F099AE.1020500@earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 21:36:46 -0400 From: Bob Perry User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; FreeBSD i386; en-US; rv:1.7) Gecko/20040703 X-Accept-Language: en-us, en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org References: <40F07719.9060702@earthlink.net> <20040710192028.669d1bd7.wmoran@potentialtech.com> <200407101659.31979.kstewart@owt.com> In-Reply-To: <200407101659.31979.kstewart@owt.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Subject: Re: How Critical Is It To Use an ISP Running FreeBSD or BSD/OS? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 11 Jul 2004 01:34:42 -0000 Kent Stewart wrote: >On Saturday 10 July 2004 04:20 pm, Bill Moran wrote: > > >>Bob Perry wrote: >> >> >>>Hello, >>>I remember reading in The Complete FreeBSD, by Greg Lehey, that >>>you'll be better off with an ISP that runs FreeBSD or BSD/OS. Can >>>anyone provide a scenario(s) where this would be most apparent? >>> >>> >>If you have problems and call their tech support. >> >>A number of ISPs in the past, when I've had problems and called, they >>say, "do this with Windows" and when I say I'm not using Windows they >>reply that they don't support anything but, and therefore can't help >>me. That's been in spite of the fact that I've done everything >>reasonable to determine that the problem is _NOT_ on my end, they >>simply refuse to do _any_ diagnostic work if I wasn't using Windows. >> >>The situation seems to be getting better, and nowadays, I just lie >>and say I'm using Windows and execute the equivalent commands in >>FreeBSD and explain the result. >> >> >> >>>I don't know what OS my ISP uses but I do know that they only >>>support Windows and Mac platforms. I've run OS/2 and FreeBSD using >>>their email services and never really needed technical support. >>> >>> >>As long as you never need tech support, you'll probably never have a >>problem, nor care what OS your ISP uses. After all, the Internet was >>designed to be OS-independent ... when everything is working >>correctly! >> >> >> >>>Now, I'm considering a new ISP primarily due to cost. Also, >>>considering obtaining my own domain name and exploring web hosting. >>> >>>I assume that recommending an ISP is inappropriate but if you know >>>of any forums that have discussed ISPs for FreeBSD, feel free to >>>recommend them. >>> >>> >>I don't think it's inappropriate. >> >>I don't know of any nationwide ISPs that support/use FreeBSD, but if >>you're in the Pittsburgh, PA area, city-net is FreeBSD friendly. >>Otherwise, you could give your location and if someone knows a >>FreeBSD friendly ISP in your area, I'm sure he'll let you know. >> >> > >Look at their web page with Netcraft, it will tell you what their web >server is and I think that is a good clue as to what the rest of their >setup. > >Use "What's that site running" at >http://news.netcraft.com/ > > > > Clearly service and technical support are major issues and easily compromised if parties involved are speaking a different language. I will spend the time to locate an ISP that is capable of supporting FreeBSD. I did come across the FreeBSD ISP list earlier in my research but thought it was dedicated solely to those running ISPs. Will give it a second look. As previously mentioned, I intend to look for an ISP that is FreeBSD-friendly. I live in northern New Jersey in a small town adjacent to Boonton. Boonton always appears at the top of the list of ISP access numbers. Must be a major hub of sorts. BTW, I already had a bookmark on the netcraft website. Thanks everyone for your valued input. Bob Perry -- I've learned that whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed. FreeBSD 4.9-RELEASE-p2 #0