Computer-related, but not learning-related.
First, I've noticed that a lot of times when DirecWay fails, it'll start dialing the modem, but quit dialing when the connection comes back up.
This morning it dialed the modem and made a connection that way, so I went to that machine to enable ICS on the modem, and it turned out it was already enabled.
So, either I left that machine connected via dialup last night and it just re-established it because an internet request came through from my machine, or it replaced the satellite with the modem on its own and also switched ICS. Gonna have to test this. I suppose unplugging the satellite modem mid-connection should be a good test.
On another note, I've decided it's time to get serious about writing the message board software I've wanted to write, so I have been shopping around like crazy for colocation services in the KC area.
Ended up running into a package provided by my ISP of many years and it's rather amazing. For $250 per month, I can put 3 machines there with one of them connected to the internet and the others on a separate private network and have unlimited shared access to a 100mb pipe!
Elsewhere, I would've been paying between $500 and $1000 per month for a 512k connection and extra for rack space (plus the extra cost of buying rack-compatible machines), but with this one, I can have all the bandwidth I want with the understanding that if I ever start using so much bandwidth it slows everyone else down, I throttle back, move, or pay more. I don't expect that to ever be a problem. They have several impressive machines there already and said they peak at only 30% utilization of the pipe.
I'm really looking forward to this not only so I can have machines out there to get serious about development and to host all of my other sites (and get them off @&#$*&%*( Hypermart), but so I can live the broadband life semi-vicariously via those machines. Like, say, downloading tons of programs and every week or so running up there to pick up the CD they're burned to. <g>
This seems a really unbeatable deal. The only downsides are the machines aren't in individually-secured cages (not worried about that), I can only access them during normal business hours, and I'll need to provide my own UPS because they've only got about 5 minutes worth.
I would be down there installing the machines today but daughter is home from school. So I expect to be able to get this done Monday or Wednesday and, with some luck, and a lot of help from my more net-savvy friend John, have my own (paltry) websites being hosted ad-free at some amazing speeds by the end of next week. <g> |
