[NCLUG] Linux/Att cable modem....

[Michael Dwyer]

> >on the AT&T offices until I actually /read/ my own E-mail and found
that
> >they would let me keep my static address.  I had hoped to keep a
number
>
> Do you still have that link? I've long since deleted that e-mail
(think I
> got it about 6 months ago). I remember following it and doing what it
wanted
> but I would like to go through the motions again just to be sure.
Thanks

I kinda wonder about it.  I asks for my E-mail address, but I want to
give it my personal address, and not my @home address (since I never
check it).  But if I give it my personal address, there is no way (short
of the source IP#) to tell which IP I am -- they wouldn't know which IP
changes to warn me about?

The first time, I filled it out from work.  I thought about it later,
and filled it out from the IP in question.  But now as I think even
MORE, I probably need to fill it out AGAIN from the new IP...  <sigh>

I have my doubts about how well this will work -- especially since Dave
said he /did/ register in time and still heard nothing... :(

Anyway, below is the letter that was in my mailbox:

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Dear AT&T at Home customer,

You may have recently received an e-mail message with the subject line
of "Action Required: Important Network Information".  If you have
already followed the instructions contained within this document,
please
disregard this message.

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR
AT&T at HOME SERVICE THAT REQUIRES YOU TAKE ACTION BEFORE May 21, 2001.

At AT&T Broadband, customer service is our number one priority.  To
ensure you receive the best online experience possible, we are working
to bring all AT&T at Home customers under a consistent network platform.
To support this upgrade, we are asking you to make a minor adjustment
to
your current network settings to support Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol (DHCP).

The AT&T at Home Network was developed to operate using DHCP as the method
to assign an IP address to your computer.  An IP address uses a unique
string of numbers and is used to identify your computer on the
Internet.
In the past, for a variety of reasons, it was necessary for some users
to have a "dedicated" IP address. Our records indicate that your
account
was assigned a dedicated address and, therefore, does not support DHCP.

Advantages of DHCP include:

· Efficient management of the network to ensure speedy performance
without causing customer service interruptions.

· Assignment of IP addresses from a pool of addresses, rather than
individual dedicated addresses. This helps address a growing problem
with IP address availability.

To make the proper adjustment to your network settings to support DHCP,
please follow the instructions outlined below.  To avoid any disruption
in your AT&T at Home service, it is important that you update the network
settings for all computers that are connected to the AT&T at Home service
by May 21, 2001.

Instructions

If you are using a non-Windows operating system, such as Macintosh,
UNIX
or Linux, you do not need to adjust your current network settings to
DHCP, but you do need to visit http://dhcpconv.home.net/ATT/ to
register
your computer.  This will ensure that we can contact you if your
computer settings need to change.

If you are using a Microsoft operating system, please follow steps 1
through 3 below:

1. Connect to the AT&T at Home Service
2. Go to http://dhcpconv.home.net/ATT/
3. Select your current operating system, then follow the steps to
download and run the DHCP conversion tool.

Please note:

· The entire process will take just a few minutes.

· You will need to reboot your machine upon completion.

· The conversion to DHCP will not affect any of your AT&T at Home
services,
such as e-mail, personal WebSpace, etc.

· Please visit our Online Customer Support Center at
http://www.attbroadband.com/support if you encounter any problems with
this process.

In an effort to reach all of our users in this area, we are also
sending
a notice of this communication in the mail.  If you have already
followed the instructions contained within this document, please
disregard this message.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to help us complete this task.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our
customer care department at http://www.attbroadband.com/support or at 1
888-262-6300.



Sincerely,


AT&T at Home Network Management Team