VPN and Comcast PRO?

In article <f4d03077.0310281746.4332d27b RemoveThis @posting.google.com>,
gmark RemoveThis @svs.com says...
 > Okay, I see the ads for the comcast Internet Pro. It's faster,
 > and it has some variant of a "semi-static" IP address. I get
 > it.
 >
 > It also says it's "compatible with VPN". Well, I GUESS it's
 > because of it's "sort-of" "static" IP addresses.
 >
 > What else makes it "compatible"? Anything? in other words,
 > since I can use other methods to get hold of my current
 > IP address even without "Internet Pro", and since the limiting
 > factor for web use tends not to be my system or my local
 > network leg, but the far end that supplies the data, what would
 > I gain from "internet pro"? Anything significant?
 >
 > What's been folks experience with this? "Some" websites go
 > blisteringly fast, but most look about the same?
 >
 > Anyone using VPN on this? With a PC? With a Mac? OS X?
 >
 > Mark
 >
Mark-

I wouldn't bother with Pro just for their "VPN compatibility,"
particularly if you just want to be a VPN client. I have their standard
residential service, and use a VPN client frequently to check my work
email (Nortel Contivity VPN client). They've been formally allowing
(but, not supporting) VPN usage on residential accounts for a while now.

My IP address at home hasn't changed in the better part of a year.

Marc<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: VPN and Comcast PRO? 

MAG <nobody@nowhere> writes:
 > In article <f4d03077.0310281746.4332d27b.DeleteThis@posting.google.com>,
 > gmark.DeleteThis@svs.com says...
  > > Okay, I see the ads for the comcast Internet Pro. It's faster,
  > > and it has some variant of a "semi-static" IP address. I get
  > > it.

 > I wouldn't bother with Pro just for their "VPN compatibility,"
 > particularly if you just want to be a VPN client. I have their standard
 > residential service, and use a VPN client frequently to check my work
 > email (Nortel Contivity VPN client). They've been formally allowing
 > (but, not supporting) VPN usage on residential accounts for a while now.

In my area, Comcast started blocking certain packets which
broke my Contivity VPN.

After all the hassles I've had over time dealing with comcast,
including their idiotic registration procedure (which, if you
don't want to install their software, requires going back and
forth with a browser to a proxy server, not to a proxy server,
back to the proxy server, whatever), i'd had it with them.

I switched to DSL, got two static IP addresses, nationwide
dialup, did the install myself in about 10 minutes and
couldn't be happier.

 > My IP address at home hasn't changed in the better part of a year.

FWIW, my IP address with Comcast never changed over the
course of four years with them and I'd have been reasonably
happy, after having gone through all the crap to make it
work, to keep it. Except that they broke stuff. After
they did that, I found out that they are trying to push
all VPN users to their "business" services for more than
twice the money. Comcast sucks.


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 >> Stay informed about: VPN and Comcast PRO? 

In article <f4d03077.0310281746.4332d27b DeleteThis @posting.google.com>,
gmark DeleteThis @svs.com (G. Mark Stewart) wrote:

 > Okay, I see the ads for the comcast Internet Pro. It's faster,
 > and it has some variant of a "semi-static" IP address.

The pro service offers
1. 5 publically routable IP addresses
2. longer DHCP leases - Up to 6 months, instead of 1 to 4 weeks.
3. higher caps - 3500 Kbps down, 384 Kbps up.

As the current speed cap increase is rolled out, the Pro will go to 4500
Kbps downstream. Servers are still not permitted and there are no QoS
terms.

 > It also says it's "compatible with VPN". Well, I GUESS it's
 > because of it's "sort-of" "static" IP addresses.

VPN has nothing to do with static ip addresses. Both Comcast's regular
residential and pro services work fine with VPNs.

The problem is that some companies further tweak their security to only
permit your entry from a specific IP. That can be a PITA if your IP
changes frequently. Comcast's IPs are allocated dynamically, but once
you have a valid lease, if you continue to properly renew it, you can
keep the same IP for months or even years. The only time Comcast forces
an IP change is when they upgrade your area and you end up on the
renumbered side.

 > What's been folks experience with this?

Some people have had problems with VPN of late. Turned out Comcast was
overzealous blocking ports, in their attempts to slow viruses. Tis
fixed now.

- Dan.
--
- Psychoceramic Emeritus
- South Jersey, USA, Earth<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: VPN and Comcast PRO? 

On 2003/10/28 8:46 PM, "G. Mark Stewart" <gmark.DeleteThis@svs.com> wrote:

 > Okay, I see the ads for the comcast Internet Pro. It's faster,
 > and it has some variant of a "semi-static" IP address. I get
 > it.
 >
 > It also says it's "compatible with VPN". Well, I GUESS it's
 > because of it's "sort-of" "static" IP addresses.

Do you want to run a VPN client on your home computer to connect to a system
outside of the Comcast network or do you want to connect into your home
computer, using it as a server?

I run IPSec-based VPN from my home account with no problems. Comcast does
not support it, but does nothing to block it.

I think that Comcast pro service provides two relevant things - a static IP
address that is useful if youu want to connect in to home and official
support.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: VPN and Comcast PRO? 

"Bob Haar" <bobhaar RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message news:BBC6F4AD.5DF6E%bobhaar@comcast.net...
 > On 2003/10/28 8:46 PM, "G. Mark Stewart" <gmark RemoveThis @svs.com> wrote:
 >
  > > Okay, I see the ads for the comcast Internet Pro. It's faster,
  > > and it has some variant of a "semi-static" IP address. I get
  > > it.
  > >
  > > It also says it's "compatible with VPN". Well, I GUESS it's
  > > because of it's "sort-of" "static" IP addresses.
 >
 > Do you want to run a VPN client on your home computer to connect to a system
 > outside of the Comcast network or do you want to connect into your home
 > computer, using it as a server?
 >
 > I run IPSec-based VPN from my home account with no problems. Comcast does
 > not support it, but does nothing to block it.
 >
 > I think that Comcast pro service provides two relevant things - a static IP
 > address that is useful if youu want to connect in to home and official
 > support.

Well, not *quite* a static IP. You get five "persistent" IP addresses. A persistent IP
is a dynamically assigned IP with a six month lease, as opposed to the 4 day IP lease
you get with the standard service.


Roxboy<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: VPN and Comcast PRO? 

Roxboy wrote:

 > Well, not quite a static IP. You get five "persistent" IP addresses. A
 > persistent IP is a dynamically assigned IP with a six month lease, as
 > opposed to the 4 day IP lease you get with the standard service.
 >

No matter how long the lease is, unless the ISP changes it, it should remain
constant, until something requires it to change.

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james.knott.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: VPN and Comcast PRO?