Help me understand connection to internet: Infrastructure and ISP

[Ron Varburg]

http://www.thecom.co.il/article.php?id=11477 has somewhat more information.

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> Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 13:33:46 +0200
> Subject: Help me understand connection to internet: Infrastructure and ISP
> From: dotancohen at gmail.com
> To: linux-il at cs.huji.ac.il
>
> Several times I have been caught in the situation in which the
> Infrastructure (Hot in this particular case) and the ISP (012 in this
> particular case) blame each other for the customer not having internet
> access. I need to understand this.
>
> After two weeks of my mother-in-law not having internet access, during
> which 012 blamed Hot and Hot blamed 012, I get there to take care of
> the issue. At Hot they tell me that since the modem lights are fine (4
> lit, one flashing) the problem must be with 012. At 012 they tell me
> that because she connects without a Dialer (as all Linux customers do)
> they cannot trace the problem any further than a superficial check
> which checks out OK. 012 "sees" the modem, so they say the problem
> must be with Hot.
>
> Apparently, the ability to trace problems is the reason that Windows
> users must use a Dialer. Furthermore, at 012 they inform me that it is
> Hot, not 012, that is providing the internet outside because there is
> no dialer. They say that they gave Hot "permission" to connect me
> directly to the internet this way. So if Hot can provide connections
> out, then why do we need ISPs at all? I notice that no other nation in
> Europe has this Infrastructure/ISP dichotomy.
>
> Furthermore, the next time that there is a problem how can I check if
> the issue is with the infrastructure or with the ISP?
>
> Thanks!
>
> --
> Dotan Cohen
>
> http://gibberish.co.il
> http://what-is-what.com
>
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