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From: nraoaoc@nmt.edu (NRAO Array Operations Center)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Re: Internet Access Costs
Message-ID: <1990Nov26.233848.20828@nmt.edu>
Date: 26 Nov 90 23:38:48 GMT
References: <315@srchtec.UUCP>
Reply-To: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM
Lines: 34

In article <315@srchtec.UUCP> mra@srchtec.uucp (Michael Almond) writes:
>[...]
>One other item: PSI says we will not have a constant IP #.  It supposedly
>changes each time we establish a connection with them.  However, our address
>will remain constant (probably searchtech.com).  I'm hoping this will not cause
>too many problem with our local setup, but I guess we're going to find out!

Say what?????

I fail to see how this can be the case. Granted they can change their tables
any time they want, *but* they have the following restrictions:

     a) they have to use an Internet number assigned to them/you by the NIC
     b) the rest of the Internet has to understand the routing (if it's
        advertised, and if it isn't no-one can reach you)
     c) your system has to know *before establishing the connection* what
        its own Internet address is

Are you sure that they meant your "IP #" changes? If you are connecting
through SLIP, then your circuit number might change each time, depending
how many other connections are being made at the same time. But your own
actual Internet address should stay the same.

Even if it *could* be done, it would be such an administrative nightmare
trying to figure out "who's 123.456.789.10 this morning?" that I can't think
why they *would* do it.

I dunno, maybe the connections are volatile enough that they just assign an 
IP address in sequence or something every time a connections comes up, but
it sounds pretty weird to me.
-- 
Ruth Milner
Systems Manager                     NRAO/VLA                    Socorro NM
                            rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu