tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post256781353477468330..comments2024-03-05T10:47:39.661-06:00Comments on Thoughts on Technology: AT&T: Linux is why the Internet isn't WorkingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954467314386661328noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-31502951332880507122012-01-23T15:00:11.209-06:002012-01-23T15:00:11.209-06:00I'm all for starting new divisions within both...I'm all for starting new divisions within both ATT and Comcast just for Linux support. Most flavors all connect via the same settings anyway.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05991659545581240755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-18397121462773641222010-12-23T15:13:17.550-06:002010-12-23T15:13:17.550-06:00say what U will..but the *NIX boxes are holding UP...say what U will..but the *NIX boxes are holding UP the internet.<br /><br />itsw the windows ones that are breaking it, especally after more and more are brought up. They are FAR FAR less secure, less self-aware, and less prone to attack. PROVIDING the ADMINS KNOW WHAT THE HELL they are doing.<br /><br />If they don't they shouldnt be using *NIX. They should go back to thier day jobs as programmers.<br /><br />--This coming from both a programmer and IT Professional of 10 years.CERTIFIED in the FIELD.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-52800131896699405202010-10-05T01:51:34.037-05:002010-10-05T01:51:34.037-05:00Each company should have good call center represen...Each company should have good <a href="http://www.teledirect.com/" rel="nofollow">call center</a> representatives who can attend to customers' needs for assistance. Most often, the success of companies relies on the people who represent them. The ability of <a href="http://www.teledirect.com/" rel="nofollow">call center</a> agents to answer customers' inquiry the best way possible can make a big difference to an organization's image and the kind of service they're providing.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04408048572477365549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-79657889814929773482010-08-31T02:45:57.295-05:002010-08-31T02:45:57.295-05:00Admitting that you use Linux can sometimes be usef...Admitting that you use Linux can sometimes be useful. The live in manager in my building uses XP and he hasn't got a clue when it comes to his PC. He's somehow got himself onto a telemarketing list and so he gets lots of calls from people selling Windows related stuff.<br />On top of this his English is pretty bad, it takes him 10 minutes before he knows what they're calling about.<br />One time I happened to be there when his phone rang, they were trying to sell him some Windows product or other. All I had to do was tell them that we used Linux (I use Ubuntu) and he hasn't had any more phone calls from telemarketers. Worked like a charm.Flixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045663860202165286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-72395961314116617692010-02-16T01:10:46.536-06:002010-02-16T01:10:46.536-06:00The current AT&T is SBC in diguise. These are...The current AT&T is SBC in diguise. These are the same clowns that tried to force all computer bulletin board operators in Texas in the 1970's to have business phone lines (every minute of connection in-bound or out-bound is metered and charged to your account). Why? Sheer greed. The current management has not changed their attitude in 40 years.<br /><br />When they bought out Ameritech (central USA, including Illinois, where I live) in the 1990's, SBC found that it was cheaper to pay the public utility commission fines for poor service than to actually meet their service commitments. Their attitude is: Customer service be-damned, we just want your money.<br /><br />So, yes, blame the cheap slime that run AT&T and hope that something comes along an ruins their business model. They deserve it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-82325821166286095652010-02-12T13:10:59.313-06:002010-02-12T13:10:59.313-06:00AT&T's Bell labs invented UNIX in 1969. Be...AT&T's Bell labs invented UNIX in 1969. Bell Labs was created by the merge of Western Electric Research Labs & part of the AT&T engineering division in 1925. Bell Labs was part of AT&T until 1996 when it was spun off into what became the corrupt Lucent Technologies. So saying that AT&T had nothing to do with the invention of UNIX is absurd.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-6673465710761550142010-02-11T12:26:01.068-06:002010-02-11T12:26:01.068-06:00QUOTE - Nathan
My university does the same thing. ...QUOTE - Nathan<br />My university does the same thing. They will not support Linux issues at all. In fact I wonder if the wireless network deliberately causes issues with Linux. My Ubuntu system inevitably gets kicked off the wireless after 10-20 minutes and cannot connect again until it reboots. This happens on no other wireless network ever, so its not a driver problem. Windows XP does the same thing, ironically, but Windows 7 does not. I wonder what's different.<br /><br />--<br /><br />try restarting smb nmb winbind and network, or use network manager and disconnect from the network then reconnect...saves a couple minutesTom Beamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15555057467142085366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-90122505978641711052010-02-11T02:20:30.879-06:002010-02-11T02:20:30.879-06:00That's odd, I always thought Ziggo only suppor...That's odd, I always thought Ziggo only supported Netgear and Sitecom and even then told you to go to the manufacturers website ;-). <br />I work as one of the script monkeys and an additional problem for us in first line support is that we get about a call a month from a linux user... It is a fact that linux users generally have a better understanding of their systems and networks. This also means it isn't cost effective to train us. Nor is it easy for us to support linux because you do not get the familiarity with the problems and the procedures.<br />I know, lame excuses, but unfortunatly true none the less.<br /><br />Posted from Iceweasel on Sidux.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-5931565472150034992010-02-11T01:43:52.165-06:002010-02-11T01:43:52.165-06:00Netherlands: Former Wanadoo, now Ziggo. Internet i...Netherlands: Former Wanadoo, now Ziggo. Internet is gone..<br />Checked my settings, all good. Checked the modem, no connection.<br />I call the supportdesk, and told them: no internet.<br />Yes, my pc is on, yes my modem is on, yes my router is on and i have local networkconnection. What kind of router do you have? A Belkin. Aha, thatś the problem, not compatible with our modem. But it worked very good untill today. Yes, but we updated your modem, so you have a better and faster internet. Well, not now. Ah, i see in our database that we have a new firmware for your router, iĺl email that to you. I DON'T HAVE INTERNET!!! I'll just emailed it, goodbye sir.. <br />I installed my very old router, received the email with attachment, installed to Belkin router, uopdated the firmware, and, No internet. Call the support, sorry wrong version, i email a new , i installed the old router etc etc, still no internet.<br />Borrowed a Linksys router, and yes internet......<br />Send then a email, and the answer: Our modem only works with Windows XP sir. And what about the fact that i emailed this with Thunderbirs under Linux Mint???/<br />No answer....Fritshttp://www.linux.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-53166247873162244032010-02-11T00:55:39.084-06:002010-02-11T00:55:39.084-06:00Wow!!! and I thought this problem was only with my...Wow!!! and I thought this problem was only with my local ISP and only in Bangalore. Every Dam ISP in India runs on Linux and every tech support guy I have spoken to in the last 5 years has flatly refused to help unless I used a Win machine... and just because of this I have been maintaining one XP machine in my office.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-14488591784605072492010-02-11T00:13:18.470-06:002010-02-11T00:13:18.470-06:00Do not feel like the lone ranger..
I too had a si...Do not feel like the lone ranger..<br /><br />I too had a similar problem with AT&T. They informed me that I needed to load Windows. The lowly AT&T outsourced support was really surprised at my response.<br /><br />"No, I do not run Windows. I run Linux and it is not the fault of Linux." "We do not support Linux, he replied. "Yes you do," I responded. "No, we don't. It is not on our list." "Yes, you do. Would you like to take a guess at where I work and what I do?" I inquired.<br /><br />"I am sorry sir, that does not have anything to do with the problem," he responded.<br /><br />"Well, yes it does. You see I am a senior level architect at AT&T, and our systems run on OS390, Solaris, and Linux."<br /><br />After a brief conversation, needless to say, I was not the one apologizing, nor did I boot Windows. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-4005371013773650312010-02-10T21:57:27.668-06:002010-02-10T21:57:27.668-06:00I've run into the same thing with a home NAS I...I've run into the same thing with a home NAS I bought. The printed instructions with it admonish the user that they must run a windows setup utility and open a port through their firewall/router so that when you connect to the NAS to admin it via the web interface, you actually bounce out to the company's server then back to your NAS. <br /><br />I figured that was BS. I connected to it via Ubuntu and Firefox just fine, kept my whole system secure, etc. All by simply knowing the IP address my DHCP server had assigned to it. When I called tech support on a different issue (the HD in the NAS died) the guy I talked to was astounded it could work without following their directions to the letter.<br /><br />The irony here? Internally the NAS is running a variant of Linux...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-84493656163545151702010-02-10T20:15:11.805-06:002010-02-10T20:15:11.805-06:00I can't say I've had this specific experie...I can't say I've had this specific experience, but I have had my fair share of experience with AT&t Tech "Support" (if they can call it support). <br /><br />Right before I switched to Roadrunner, my AT&t service was out 95% of the time, obviously an issue on their side, so I called to try and fix it. The guy said that, because I used a third party modem (after theirs BROKE), they couldn't help me. Such bullshit... one of many reasons I'm happy to be done with them.<br /><br />Plus, if you're not already familiar with it: http://www.eff.org/cases/heptingChrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-28544240372066568822010-02-10T19:31:37.018-06:002010-02-10T19:31:37.018-06:00Someone commented that Linux is difficult to suppo...Someone commented that Linux is difficult to support. Someone else pointed out that the support doesn't have a script to read from for Linux. Our experience is that Linux is actually easier for us to support than Windows, here's why:<br /><br />a) We see a tremendous amount of Windows machines infested with spyware and viruses.<br /><br />b) We see a lot of people who come in with machines that don't have genuine Windows licenses.<br /><br />c) Linux actually tends to have more drivers than Windows XP working right out of the box. <br /><br />Supporting Linux isn't that difficult. But as others have pointed out, it helps to have a database to refer to for tricky problems. Google is a friend here, but we maintain our own database based on an internal Drupal site with a bunch of CCK fields customized to support our technicians.<br /><br />The same thing can be done for Linux rather than saying "we don't support it."Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11351416327969151602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-59097480874551393012010-02-10T19:26:19.632-06:002010-02-10T19:26:19.632-06:00In South Florida it seems you must have XP SP2 or ...In South Florida it seems you must have XP SP2 or later and IE in order to setup a new ATT dsl account activeX controls are needed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-11491629534272168582010-02-10T19:08:15.225-06:002010-02-10T19:08:15.225-06:00"Don't forget AT&T invented UNIX in 1..."Don't forget AT&T invented UNIX in 1969 so they can't be all bad."<br /><br />Just for the record, the company that "invented" Unix was Bell Labs which is now part of Alcatel Lucent, not what is now known as AT&T. So please feel free to continue the AT&T bashing. <br /><br />http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLd4w3MXMBSYGYRq6m-pEoYgbxjggRX4_83FT9IH1v_QD9gtzQiHJHR0UAaOmbyQ!!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvd0ZNQUFzQUMvNElVRS82X0FfNDZLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-17881430600778934682010-02-10T18:09:19.508-06:002010-02-10T18:09:19.508-06:00I have had this issue so many times in the last 14...I have had this issue so many times in the last 14 years I have run Linux I don't even tell them I run it anymore. Right away I know they will blame Linux for everything and say its not supported.Techgurlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06352223766658512718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-23947682024980299602010-02-10T17:42:21.959-06:002010-02-10T17:42:21.959-06:00While your Internet is still operational, write do...While your Internet is still operational, write down your network settings. Then, when it does go down, you will be ready.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-26558234987770171302010-02-10T16:45:31.541-06:002010-02-10T16:45:31.541-06:00I have had a totally different experience with AT&...I have had a totally different experience with AT&T in regards to Linux. I purchased their U-Verse service last year, and when the techs came out, they left me Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE Live CDs. I played dumb and let them explain, and they did a really good job in doing so. I then let the cat out of the hat letting them know I am a core Ubuntu developer and KDE developer. They hung out for a bit and geeked out. Since then they both are friends now. I had to recently call AT&T for a problem and when asked which operating system I used, I said Linux, they then asked which Distro. I told them Kubuntu, and the response back was "That is one of the Ubuntu based distros correct?" I was impressed, and they even slung some Linux commands at me. Come to find out in the end, it was a problem with the fiber system coming into the house.nixternalhttp://www.nixternal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-84103225897638395602010-02-10T15:54:01.214-06:002010-02-10T15:54:01.214-06:00I had a similar issue with AT&T (back when the...I had a similar issue with AT&T (back when they were still SBC). Although there is some light at the end of the tunnel. More recently I moved into an area that had a cable provider. I had some issues with my internet connection. The support person said "Are you using Windows?" In most cases I simply lie and tell them I am, but occasionally I do tell the truth. This was one of those cases, but almost reluctantly. I took a deep breath almost sighing "No." The support person said, "Oh, you're using Linux, so you already know what you're doing, let me check something." A few moments later the connection was restored and it was all working. I didn't even mention Linux myself. I figured she'd think it was Mac, but no... she assumed Linux. I was in total shock.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-32166434806149111362010-02-10T15:32:25.242-06:002010-02-10T15:32:25.242-06:00All this AT&T bashing. I have had problems wit...All this AT&T bashing. I have had problems with every service provider I've ever dealt with, AT&T, Verizon, Cox, Charter, etc...<br /><br />Don't forget AT&T invented UNIX in 1969 so they can't be all bad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-37202392980391959052010-02-10T15:19:19.724-06:002010-02-10T15:19:19.724-06:00We have a similar situation at my Job. Not exactly...We have a similar situation at my Job. Not exactly about customer OS (we're in an other market), but about customer-controlled equipment in general.<br /><br />Our simple strategy is that we have a few proven, supported setups, where we offer phone-aid for troubleshooting etc. If the customer chooses to run something else (completely home-brewn or whatever), or do not wish to troubleshoot his/her own stuff, we simply warn them that we will assign a technician, but if that technician discovers that the problem was at the customers end, the customer will be charged a standard-fee corresponding to a one hour-payment of the technicians time. (around 70$)<br /><br />Most customers then decide to go through their own setup once more. Sometimes they come back and actually asks for a technician to have a look, but usually our logs show them "magically" coming online again just after the call.<br /><br />It's a good system, we can allow just about any configuration without really supporting more than we can handle, and the best part is that we're reducing so much customer visits for our service partners that we rarely need to actually charge the fee. When given an incentive, most customers helps their own problem.<br /><br />And yes, as some others have hinted, ~90% of our incoming technical calls actually seems to be due to problems at the customer end.Rawlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11332782769048595926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-72602589912996004552010-02-10T15:17:07.879-06:002010-02-10T15:17:07.879-06:00It's not "pass the buck", it's p...It's not "pass the buck", it's poor tech support. As a tech support guy myself, I can vouch that that kind of service just wouldn't be acceptable...if one of our users has a problem, it doesn't matter if it's on our end, their end, whether it's our configuration that's causing the problem or their code that's buggy, we fix it.<br /><br />Admittedly, I work at a supercomputing facility that has a great many fewer users than AT&T, but I routinely fix things that are very much not our fault, and if I don't understand something, it's my responsibility to learn enough about it to help the user. That level of service is simply inexcusable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-91847926400871865492010-02-10T15:14:03.331-06:002010-02-10T15:14:03.331-06:00I had a problem with my cell phone (HTC Dream G1 a...I had a problem with my cell phone (HTC Dream G1 android t-mobile phone) with AT&T. The problem was that my wife would try to call and it would quickly be disconnecting. I was sick of the nagging, so I called AT&T and explained the problem. (AT&T has me on their network with a Samsung BlackJack II) After cheching the account and both phones, she transfered me to a technician. After a little delay, I asked if I need to do something. He said that he was looking in the manual for "Blacklist" for my BlackJack II. Laughing to myself, I went through the Android menus and found the black list, and removed the numbers there. Told the tech, that I found it and we were good to go...<br /><br />Sometimes it does help to call tech support.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402984000559601283.post-24114035685992849052010-02-10T15:13:48.290-06:002010-02-10T15:13:48.290-06:00Had a similar problem with Comcast years back. I h...Had a similar problem with Comcast years back. I had a Linux box that had been running for months with no problem. Then one morning, I wake up and DNS queries took forever. Yet none of my other machines (Windows) had problems. Even more curious, my laptop which dual booted saw the problem only when I was using Linux, not XP.<br /><br />The tech argued with me that it had to be my Linux configuration, even though nothing had changed from when it worked before. Long story short, I changed my router to use DNS servers other than the Comcast servers, and the problem disappeared.<br /><br />Extremely frustrating that they can't get something that's so universal as DNS lookups to work properly with all platforms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com