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Grex > Helpers > #144: Grex System Problems - Fall 2005 | |
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| Author |
Message |
| 25 new of 276 responses total. |
nharmon
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response 209 of 276:
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Dec 14 13:42 UTC 2005 |
> In other news, grex is not just about saving money any way it can.
It isn't just a matter of saving money. It is about maximizing Grex's capital
assets in order to maximize its effectiveness in meeting its purpose.
Paying for dialup lines, and diverting staff time to modem maintenance seems
like a waste of resources. Grex is a computer system that serves users
worldwide, but only provides local access in Ann Arbor.
From "Grex's Limitations" as displayed to new users:
"Grex is primarily a computer conferencing system. Note that
WE ARE NOT AN INTERNET PROVIDER."
If Grex is "NOT AN INTERNET PROVIDER" it seems that there is not much of a
reason to keep dialup lines.
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keesan
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response 210 of 276:
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Dec 14 16:45 UTC 2005 |
There are several paying grexers without ISP accounts who might stop paying
if they lost modem access permanently. I much prefer to direct dial. My
school internet connection is very erratic. Also we have set up several
nonpaying grex users with email, who had no internet connection. Some of them
became paying members, some got ISP accounts, but there was no other way we
could have let them try out the internet for free. I am supposed to set up
another neighbor with a grex account but the modems don't work. It takes only
four members to support one phone line.
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mary
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response 211 of 276:
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Dec 14 16:52 UTC 2005 |
Sindi, how often do you get a busy signal? I'm wondering if we could
justify going to one dialin line.
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cross
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response 212 of 276:
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Dec 14 16:54 UTC 2005 |
This response has been erased.
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keesan
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response 213 of 276:
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Dec 14 17:03 UTC 2005 |
I know of one paying member who is not paying until the modems work again,
one who has no idea how to telnet to grex so has not been able to read email
for a month, one who has no home internet access without modems (I think they
want the kids not to see pictures online) and there must be others who cannot
participate in this discussion for obvious reasons.
I was getting busy signals about once a week but I pity anyone who would try
to get on when I get interested in researching something online. The busy
signals were with two modems (not necessarily both working).
Arbornet eliminated dialins entirely. I used to dial them when grex was busy.
Sometimes my ISP is not working at all (or I get busy signals when most of
their hardware is not working).
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rcurl
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response 214 of 276:
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Dec 14 17:34 UTC 2005 |
"Grex is a computer system that serves users worldwide, but only provides
local access in Ann Arbor", and is supported primarily by Ann Arbor users.
At least put those modems back into use (which we are still paying for,
aren't we?), and take a poll of users. Of course, the longer they are
not operable, the more dial-in users we are probably losing. (Could this
be a plot to get rid of dial-in users???)
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nharmon
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response 215 of 276:
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Dec 14 18:00 UTC 2005 |
I agree with Rane, if we're paying for them, we might as well have them
running.
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naftee
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response 216 of 276:
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Dec 14 23:07 UTC 2005 |
I think we should e-mail all the paying members and ask them if they are using
the dialin modems.
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nharmon
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response 217 of 276:
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Dec 15 16:01 UTC 2005 |
What about non-paying members?
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rcurl
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response 218 of 276:
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Dec 15 17:07 UTC 2005 |
They aren't members, but they are users, and deserve the same consideration
since membership is not a requirement for use of the system.
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davel
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response 219 of 276:
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Dec 15 17:11 UTC 2005 |
$ uptime
12:08PM up 2 days, 14:53, 20 users, load averages: 28.15, 28.14, 28.02
Why does the Grex status web page still say Grex is down?
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tod
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response 220 of 276:
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Dec 15 19:38 UTC 2005 |
I do not think it makes sense to support the dial in lines since they are only
local to Ann Arbor users. It seems like a waste of financial resources.
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rcurl
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response 221 of 276:
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Dec 15 20:19 UTC 2005 |
Most of the dues income also comes from "local to Ann Arbor users". While
I usually ssh in, I do try dialin if Grex is not accessible via the
internet as just maybe it is an internet problem. Also, earlier, I asked
if staff needs the dialins for servicing the system - what is the answer
to that?
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tod
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response 222 of 276:
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Dec 15 20:24 UTC 2005 |
Are donations for Cyberspace Communications earmarked for Ann Arbor dialup
users or just Ann Arbor users in general? If that's the case, let me know.
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nharmon
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response 223 of 276:
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Dec 15 20:25 UTC 2005 |
Well, there is talk about putting in a 2nd system for firewall and proxy of
Grex's internet connection. They could also be used as a sort of "staging
area" for any staff maintenance that might be needed.
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rcurl
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response 224 of 276:
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Dec 15 20:34 UTC 2005 |
So, do staff need the dialins now, or don't they?
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keesan
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response 225 of 276:
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Dec 15 21:08 UTC 2005 |
Several people in Ann Arbor would stop being paying members if the lines were
discontinued. Which might leave grex financially behind not ahead.
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tod
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response 226 of 276:
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Dec 15 21:40 UTC 2005 |
Isn't there an alternative to Grex having its own dialups?
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mary
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response 227 of 276:
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Dec 15 22:59 UTC 2005 |
Rane, Grex no longer has a dedicated staff dial-in line. That was
disconnected quite a while ago as we felt it simply wasn't being used
enough to warrant the expense.
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mary
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response 228 of 276:
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Dec 15 23:05 UTC 2005 |
Now, as to whether staff would ever elect to dial-in to fix a problem if
Grex was off the net? Don't know. I suspect it would be easier to simply
go to Provide than deal with such slow and painful access, but someone on
staff should probably answer that one.
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tod
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response 229 of 276:
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Dec 15 23:29 UTC 2005 |
Beuller? Beuller...
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drew
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response 230 of 276:
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Dec 16 03:40 UTC 2005 |
Re #220:
Long distance can be had cheap enough
now, and modems are fast enough, that
this is much less of a problem.
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root
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response 231 of 276:
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Dec 16 06:51 UTC 2005 |
I think I may have found the problem and have rolled out a fix.
Can someone more local than myself here in Tokyo please give
the line a ring and let me know whether it is working now?
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bhoward
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response 232 of 276:
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Dec 16 07:24 UTC 2005 |
Silly me, I forgot my powerbook has a modem. For the first and
problem last time, I put it to use, and have been successfully
able to dial in.
Emjoy!
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gull
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response 233 of 276:
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Dec 16 08:27 UTC 2005 |
I think the dialin lines are a valuable service for some people, and I'd
hate to see them go away entirely just yet. It will be the end of an
era, when they do.
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