Re: kernel network problem ?

[Steven N. Hirsch]

On Tue, 9 Jan 2001, Helge Hafting wrote:

> Nicolas Noble wrote:
> [...]
> As others have told already, this is the ECN problem.
> 
> > I noticed the same bug. This is very weired, I can send a list of sites
> > which I can't connect anymore. 
> 
> You have a list?  Send all of them a message stating that they ought
> to upgrade their firewalls which cause this problem.  Or they
> will loose customers/visitors.  Cisco already have an upgrade for them,
> so fixing is dead easy, and they can then boast compatibility with
> the latest internet standards.  
> 
> If they don't care about linux users, tell them that windows eventually
> will use ECN too.  They definitely don't want to have a ECN problem when
> that happens.

After upgrading to kernel 2.4.0, I found myself unable to retrieve mail
from Adelphia's (2-way cable ISP) POP server.  It took several days to
figure out that _one_ of their routers was configured to block ECN.  After
bringing this to the attention of their network engineers, I was informed
that their policy prohibits making any router changes on the basis of one
trouble report.  The person I spoke with did NOT try to defend their
setup, but it was made clear that they'll do nothing until Windows breaks.

If I were packaging a Linux distribution, I'd be sure to have ECN disabled
by default, FWIW.

Steve