Now what happens if you connect with NetBSD or a
hardware router? Do
they believe you that you are clued and that you have configured
everything correctly? Do they immediatley start to investigate on
their side? Or do they say: Start yast2. Check this and this ?
Ok, guys, go for VO or EPT... They clearly don't allow use of any OS
other that M$t ones. My experience with Alternet is that they are
openminded, Linux aware and give advices on which DSL router is reported
as working easily with Linux, but if you prefer having endless
discussions about what is a support and what's not, keep on going.
For me, the role of an ISP is NOT to debug your specific ppp stack. With
the margin they have, they couldn't provide each customer several hours
of fully trained engineer. At least, they will not answer you "we only
support M$t OSes" and they know about Linux. Having above that the
lowest ADSL flat rates in Luxembourg is enough for me to just give you
the information. I won't spend my time anymore defending them, I'm not a
shareholder, but I just though it was a good idea for those who wants
ADSL Internet access at flat rate to go for it, especially if we tell
them about that. This way, we could also have some weight on at least
one ISP to indeed keep Linux in mind when they plan future technical
changes...
Do they accept error messages from pppd as a proof ?
I don't know. So far, I never had technical difficulties with them.
If they just support Linux instead of everything with
a TCP/IP stack,
they *should* specify which distros they mean.
They don't support any OS. They provide IP service on ADSL, not a
help-desk about all computer-related problems. They just don't say "go
to hell" as soon as you don't report using a m$t OS and they are FOSS aware.
>> From a technical point of view, I prefer ISPs
who support official
>> standards like TCP/IP, DHCP (and PPPoE for DSL) rather than those
>> who support specific operating systems.
>
That's what they do.
Why should a Router/ADSL modem not work with Linux, as
long as they
support Ethernet, TCP/IP and PPPoE? Network components are pretty
common and standardized these days. No need for compatibility matrices
and so on. I have already seen graphics hardware not working whith
Linux, but routers, switches, DSL/Cable Modems? The only problem I
might see are USB only modems. But I think that most people under us
would take a ethernet device anyway ;-)
That's the point indeed. If you tell them you are planned to use it from
a Linux-based computer, they advice Ethernet DSL router. I think this is
a positive and Linux-aware advice, instead of saying "You are not
authorised to run this kind of OS when connected to our network !".
They indeed
send plain-text mails or PDFs, no proprietary format.
Good information. This is what really interests me. The internal
Office software they use is even less relevant to me than the software
they use for their web server (Apache or IIS).
You didn't say that you were a satisfied
customer. If you report that
they provide good service and if you can confirm this from your
personal experience, I am glad that you share this information to
others. No problem with this.
I also advised this to tens of customers. No one reports any problem so
far...
What I want to
avoid is the conditions expressed in other ISP
contracts, saying that you MUST use m$t w$ to use their service...
I want to avoid that somebody says I *must* use Linux (or Windows) if
I have just bought a hardware router. Btw, my home firewall is a Sun
SparcStation running under NetBSD.
They don't force you using whatever. But if you choose Linux (I don't
know for other OSes), they are still following you and giving
appropriate advice. That's enough for me.
I don't understand why I have to receive so many e-mails about such a
small news. If you want more details, visit their web site
(
http://www.alternet.lu). It is not always accurate because it is still
operated by a subcontractor, or call them. The point was that it is -as
far as I know and for the time being- the cheapest ADSL offer with flat
rate in Luxembourg, and that they don't throw you away if you are using
Linux, far from that.
Just my 0.002 eurocent (about 1 franc CFA).
--
Brent Frère
Private e-mail: Brent(a)BFrere.net
Postal address: 5, rue de Mamer
L-8280 Kehlen
Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg
European Union
Mobile: +352-021/29.05.98
Fax: +352-26.30.05.96
Home: +352-307.341
URL:
http://BFrere.net