ISP Problem, Need Input

[louie55]

My ISP just informed me today that they (a cable company) assign static IP addresses dynamically by MAC address. I told them that I need multiple IP's on one physical interface (for my DA server) and he said that they can't do that. Is he right? Has anybody ran across this problem? To get around this, I guess I can put together another computer to use as a second DNS server, that will get rid of the need of 2 IP's, but what if a customer wants SSL? I will not be able to give them a separate IP!

Am I up a creek without a paddle?

Please Help.

Louie

 

[nobaloney]

Louie,

I've always said it's a bad idea to try to run a hosting company from home on an ISP or cable connection.

And the best place for you to get information is, of course, your cable provider.

Now, that said, let me respond to the rest of your email...

My ISP just informed me today that they (a cable company) assign static IP addresses dynamically by MAC address.

Dynamically, eh? Then they're not really static IP#s. SBC has recently started doing this; they call it "sticky IP#s", and it's what they're now assigning in San Bernardino, Calif., though their website still says "Static IP".

But if they're doing it the same way I'm seeing it done by SBC, then you can't connect your linux server directly to the Internet with a standard static IP configuration; you'll need either a router, or to set up PPPoE on your linux box. And you can't run DA on multiple IPs over PPPoE because DA doesn't know how to set up additional IPs over PPPoE.

Unless you get a router. SBC is charging $199 for a router worth at most $75.

Though I host from one of the best data centers in the world (it even hosts one of the main DNS root servers), I use SBC at home and for my testbed DA server. Supposedly (or so I've been told) our account qualifies as a "legacy" account and we will continue to have true static IP#s. If that ever stops, then we will have to leave SBC.

I told them that I need multiple IP's on one physical interface (for my DA server) and he said that they can't do that.

As I wrote above, DA can't do it even if they can, unless you can get a router that you can use to log in over PPPoE (and only if they support it, which they say they don't). So if they say they can't, they probably can't.

However, if been speaking only with first level support, be sure to ask for "second level" or "top level" support; it's been my experience in the past that first level support people often have mistaken impressions of what they can and can't do.

Is he right? Has anybody ran across this problem?

We ran across it one time with SBC, last week, for a friend who wanted to host a webserver. He's not using DA, and he's going to get around it (when he needs more IP#s), by getting the router from SBC.

Am I up a creek without a paddle?

Very likely, unless your area offers a satisfactory DSL connection; DSL providers are more apt to be able to handle multiple static IP#s. Of course unless you're in SBC territory .

You might look to see if Covad service is available at your location. They're considerably more expensive (though they're less than what I pay for the same service) but their 5 IP option might be just what you need.

If you tell me your cable provider I might be able to get a definitive answer for you.

Jeff

 

[louie55]

First of all, what made you think I am running it from home? It will be run from a business and we are using a business account with the ISP.

Second, I thought that you couldn't run a DA server behind a router? Yet, you said that I could use a router in front of my DA server to provide PPPoE services. Is there a way to have your router do PPPoE services without doing any firewalling/NAT?

Third, the cable company is Charter Communications.

Thank you very much for the response, I am eagerly awaiting another.

Louie

 

[nobaloney]

First of all, what made you think I am running it from home?

I don't think you're running it anywhere. I know of only one business that uses a cable connection, and it's a home-based business. Perhaps I was presumptuous, but here in Riverside very few businesses use cable connections. I'm sorry if you took anything perosnally.

It will be run from a business and we are using a business account with the ISP.

Perhaps based on your experience I should say "It's a bad idea to attempt to run a hosting company on any aDSL or cable connection." I'm seeing a lot of cable and aDSL providers who are taking provisioning shortcuts that mean they're not giving you what traditionally is called a static IP connection.

The gent who's SBC experience I mentioned in my previous response also has a business grade connection, but PPPoE and other dynamically assigned addresses are NOT static IPs no matter what the providers call them.

Second, I thought that you couldn't run a DA server behind a router? Yet, you said that I could use a router in front of my DA server to provide PPPoE services. Is there a way to have your router do PPPoE services without doing any firewalling/NAT?

Yes, but probably not with the inexpensive routers traditionally used on cable and aDSL connections. In fact you must run DA behind a router, though that router may not be on your premises. The router SBC is trying to sell the gent I mentioned is specifically designed to use PPPoE for the connection and then route the external IPs in his internal network.

The routers we use at the data center are a bit more complex, and quite a bit more expensive.

The routers you get with an sDSL connection from the likes of Covad are somewhere in the middle; I believe in the $300 range.

Third, the cable company is Charter Communications.

Charter Communications is the local company here in Riverside, and I'm afraid I've never been able to contact a Charter rep with any clue at all. A few years ago, before installing aDSL here at my home-office, I tried several times to contact them about static IP connections. They said they'd charge me $20 per month per IP, and that seemd a bit expensive, since I pay approximately $100 per month for eight IPs and my 3 mbps aDSL connectivity.

But I'm not sure it mattered, because the rep assinged to business accounts never called me back, though I left messages many times.

Jeff