How Critical Is It To Use an ISP Running FreeBSD or BSD/OS?

[Kent Stewart]

On Saturday 10 July 2004 04:20 pm, Bill Moran wrote:
> Bob Perry <rperry4 at earthlink.net> wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I remember reading in The Complete FreeBSD, by Greg Lehey, that
> > you'll be better off with an ISP that runs FreeBSD or BSD/OS.  Can
> > anyone provide a scenario(s) where this would be most apparent?
>
> If you have problems and call their tech support.
>
> A number of ISPs in the past, when I've had problems and called, they
> say, "do this with Windows" and when I say I'm not using Windows they
> reply that they don't support anything but, and therefore can't help
> me.  That's been in spite of the fact that I've done everything
> reasonable to determine that the problem is _NOT_ on my end, they
> simply refuse to do _any_ diagnostic work if I wasn't using Windows.
>
> The situation seems to be getting better, and nowadays, I just lie
> and say I'm using Windows and execute the equivalent commands in
> FreeBSD and explain the result.
>
> > I don't know what OS my ISP uses but I do know that they only
> > support Windows and Mac platforms.  I've run OS/2 and FreeBSD using
> > their email services and never really needed technical support.
>
> As long as you never need tech support, you'll probably never have a
> problem, nor care what OS your ISP uses.  After all, the Internet was
> designed to be OS-independent ... when everything is working
> correctly!
>
> > Now, I'm considering a new ISP primarily due to cost.   Also,
> > considering obtaining my own domain name and exploring web hosting.
> >
> > I assume that recommending an ISP is inappropriate but if you know
> > of any forums that have discussed ISPs for FreeBSD, feel free to
> > recommend them.
>
> I don't think it's inappropriate.
>
> I don't know of any nationwide ISPs that support/use FreeBSD, but if
> you're in the Pittsburgh, PA area, city-net is FreeBSD friendly. 
> Otherwise, you could give your location and if someone knows a
> FreeBSD friendly ISP in your area, I'm sure he'll let you know.

Look at their web page with Netcraft, it will tell you what their web 
server is and I think that is a good clue as to what the rest of their 
setup.

Use "What's that site running" at
http://news.netcraft.com/

Kent
-- 
Kent Stewart
Richland, WA

http://users.owt.com/kstewart/index.html