_Replying to a message_
By: Jeffrey E. Harris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Jeffrey E. Harris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
On: Friday, March 09, 2001, 5:49:41 AM
Re: [Miami] Re: Cable Modem tests
Hi Jeffrey,
JH>>> These days, I think it is almost impossible (in the Windows world,
JH>>> at least) NOT to run a server:
JH>>>
JH>>> 1) File and print server sharing is built into every version of
JH>>> windows; does the ISP define that as a "server"?
TS>> It may be available, but it's not always enabled. Most home PCs
TS>> don't have a LAN, and without a network connection of some kind, file
TS>> and printer sharing aren't enabled.
JH> Tim, that may be true in Australia, but I find there are more and more
JH> people in the US who have home networks, if for no other reason than
JH> to share one Internet connection (a cheap way to take advantage of a
JH> high speed Internet connection). Many of those people may not have
JH> file and print sharing enabled, but many do, particularly so they
JH> share a printer.
I still think you'll find that most PCs don't "come" that way, but these
features are added by choice.
i.e. The service isn't on by default.
You do have to deliberately elect to share files and printers, for one
thing. And, Windows stupidities aside, they oughtn't to be shared to the
web, as a default action for MODEMs. Though, LAN type of internet
connections to the web are likely to be available, by default.
However, there's a difference between slack security, and deliberately
"serving" files to the public. And I think most ISPs would realise that.
But, it is possible that simply leaving your file sharing in a publically
accessible condition may be sending stuff out onto the internet that makes
a pest of itself, all by itself.
e.g. the usual Windows networking behaviour, such as the typical spurious
NetBIOS connection attempts we all get while on the net.
Mostly "that's" harmless. Though, if you're vulnerable, you might end up
accidentally sharing your files with a complete stranger, who may take
advantage of that. Hackers, on the other hand, are always on the prowl
for such a gifted opportunity.
But it's quite probably that your computer trying to find every other
computer on what it thinks is its LAN, may be sending out enough stuff to
be a pest.
Though, I think you'd just get told to fix it, rather than get permanently
banned.
JH>>> 2) Every version of Windows comes with (either on the CD or via
JH>>> download from MS) a webserver; at what point does an ISP throw the
JH>>> towel in on that?
TS>> Most people don't install it. The average user isn't really running
TS>> such services.
JH> I think part of the reason is that it is not practical on a low speed,
JH> part time connection. As more users obtain high speed connections,
JH> and learn more about webservers, this will become more common.
I think it's more likely that most users aren't interested in serving
anything, they're more interested in getting stuff from the net. Most
ISPs, around here, offer free web site hosting, but rarely do people
bother to create a web site.
It's pretty much the same as in the BBS days. Most people are more
interested in downloading stuff, than anything else they could do.
TS>> There's certainly people transferring large files, all the time,
TS>> using IRC or ICQ, but only between two people. Or downloading huge
TS>> update files to Windows. If ISPs want to get narky about some users
TS>> using more bandwidth than others, they're going to shoot themselves
TS>> in the foot, over it.
JH> I think the key point you hit upon is the scale of the "server". ISPs
JH> are likely to ignore Napster and IRC clients because they are one on
JH> one connections. They are probably less likely to ignore a webserver
JH> sharing up large picture files to any and all browsers, and generally
JH> making a nuisance of itself.
Web browsing can generate a wide amount of bandwidth use, particularly as
multiple connections are used. ISPs may not be set up to cope with
connections, that way around, and it may cause congestion problems.
Web servers, more than other types, are probably more likely to cause a
problem with visitors trying to connect to an IP that a new user has just
received, that was previous being used by a server.
I say that, because other servers are probably going to give up trying to
connect, quicker than a web browser will. At least that's been my
experience.
IRC, ICQ and e-mail, are all mainly one-to-one links, though that's not an
absolute fact.
The first two are commonly used to "find" other people to swap stuff with,
but they're not really capable of doing loads at once. And connection
attempts will fail pretty quickly if the other side doesn't have the
client you're trying to connect with.
I've found various SMTP servers to be quite slow, and I've often wondered
if they deliberately throttle them so that it's difficult to send a lot of
mail at once.
Napster, on the other hand, isn't. It's a public server, that blatantly
"advertises" you to the public as being available. And, on top of that,
may generate more interest from an ISP, as it's main use (* all arguments
ignored) is to exchange music against the copyright conditions. It's
precisely the sort of behaviour that waves red flags about the place, as
the user being of dubious character.
* Whatever people say it's "meant" for (something else I don't believe),
the fact is that the main thing it actually gets used for is /that/.
The other thing I've noticed, is more ISPs dropping users for taking large
amounts of the bandwidth, even though that's not specifically a term of
service breach. There are some things that I expect when I pay for an
inter*NET* "service," and if the service promoted "unlimited" downloads or
hours, I expect to get what I signed up for. As do most other people.
--
Bye,
Tim.
http://www.picknowl.com.au/homepages/Tim_Seifert/
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(Modbury, near Adelaide, South Australia)
Video productions, electronics engineering, service and technical
support, and more. For further information, visit the web site.
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