[NTLUG:Discuss] AT&T@Home redux

[R. Jay Campbell]

Steve Egbert wrote:
> 
> Only a couple of AT&T Excite TCI Cox (whatever) @Home cable modem comes to
> my mind:
> 
> 1.  Motorola Cyber Wavesurfer (no traffic shaping, you want to keep this)
> 2.  3Com HomeConnect(tm) Cable Modem External 3CR29220
> 3.  3Com CMX
> 
> I got a snail mail from AT&T at Home about the advent of enforcing DHCP.  Said
> if I am a non-Windoze/Mac user to email them for details.  That was 2 weeks
> ago, no details so far.
> 
I originally installed with the Motorola Cyber Wavesurfer, but 6 months or so
ago, they replaced it with an RCA DCM-205 digital broadband modem (manual says
works with Linux! - also note, installation was in Frisco, TX).  Then in
mid-February I got the letter that said: "To ensure you receive the best online
experience possible, we are working to bring all AT&T at Home customers under a
consistent network platform.  To support this upgrade, we are asking you to make
a minor adjustment to your current network settings to support Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol (DHCP)."

So what do Linux users do?  From the letter: "If you are using a non-Windows
operating system, such as Macintosh, UNIX or Linux, you do not neet to adjust
your current network settings to DHCP, but you do need to visit
http://dhcpconv.home.net/ATT/ to register your computer.  This will ensure that
we can contact you if your computer settings need to change."

Well, I've done that, but it sure seems stupid.  Are they saying that UNIX and
Linux don't know how to support DHCP correctly?  What they say they plan to do
is email me with new settings when I have to change them - what are the chances
they'll have one of their patented email service outages right when I need to
receive this vital information?

-- 
R. Jay Campbell
mailto:chezjc at home.com
"Imagine there's no heaven,
it's easy if you try..."