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Electro:

Thanks for the input, but the problem is NOT with my cable connection, the problem is with accessing my system files and security programs

I had a few problems with cable connections. One is an obsolete modem and other is a MAC address.

No problems there - the connection is rock solid @ a clean 6Megs down - the MAC is the correct one

I had to buy a new cable modem that has the DOCSIS protocol.

Again, not a Hardware issue.... that's why I posted in Security - the Mod moved this thread

No offense, but from all your bitching it seems you got no where. I and others are itching their head.

Me too -

Did you look up compatible cable modems that work with Comcast system?

The system's compatible - the problem logging in was that the third tier only has one tech that is capable of working with Nix in all of Comcasts employees, and getting past tier one is like asking for sex - it's almost impossible over the phone

Did you try tell Comcast techs your MAC address? The MAC address depends where the cable modem is connected to such as a NIC or USB.
Did you try call tech support for the cable modem? Probably it just a dead cable modem.

All that was taken care of when the TECH (finally) came out and sang me the same song...

Turned out that tier three had to talk to the chip and re-set the pointer, and push me thru because the WinBlows based program they're using wasn't set up to point a Nix system out

If Comcast is using dynamic IP addressing, try other DHCP daemons instead the default (I think it is bootp).

Bootp is the program Red Hat uses - I'm FC specific (on this system - I have 15 computers)

For my DNS servers, I use OpenDNS.com instead the servers from the cable provider.

Took a look - that seems like it's a very nice router program, but doesn't address my problem accessing my security programs or Hard Drive on my system

That's why I asked:

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Cable internet companies do not care what OS their customers are running. They just care if you are willing to pay for a internet subscription and a cable modem. Cable companies only see the cable modem.

It seems you do not understand what they want.

A UNIX IP address is the same as Windows IP address. If it is any different neither OS will work well on the internet.

I do not know why you think Comcast needs to access your system directly. If they do, they are not going be very good or they will be evil.

A cable internet provider only needs:
1) Make and model of the cable modem
2) The MAC or HW address that the cable modem is connected to. If using USB for the cable modem, use its MAC address.

Some cable internet providers require you to use PPPoE (Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet) or PPPoA (Point-to-Point Protocol over ATM) for added security. I think Linux has tools to do either of these. Then there are a few ISP that needs host name and/or domain name.

Though if you are running a firewall and you forgot to disable it during the setup, then it is your fault that you are in this mess.

OpenDNS is not a router program. It is a site that provides free fast DNS servers that anybody can use to ease internet browsing and screen out any phishing sites. Any router or DHCP client/server service can be forced to use desire DNS servers.

Your thread's gonna stay in this forum until the issue you are experiencing becomes more clear. When that happens, one of the mods will move the thread accordingly if necessary. No need for you to go on about it. So far there is nothing to indicate that this is a security issue, even though the problem involves the malfunctioning of some of your security tools.

If Knoppix gives you the same problem, then that sort of rules out any misconfigured/damaged software on your box, which leaves us with hardware, or at least the way in which software is acting in relation to hardware. That said, I am really clueless as to what could cause such unusual behavior on a Linux box. If unplugging the network cable on my box would prevent me from accessing my system configuration files, I'd more than likely be right here doing exactly the same thing as you (asking for help on LQ).

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Electro:

Once again, thanks for the response, but I beg to differ

What I posted was almost word-for-word what Comcasts top Tier three tech told me....

Apparently, there are either a few things that are different than you think, or perhaps what the #1 Tech for Comcast believes.

I'm only repeating what the companies themselves have told me, so please take this with a grain of salt, I have no doubt that you are eminently smarter on the subject than I am, and mean no offense....

First off, it would seem that Comcast, AT&T and Verizon - who openly and readily state that they can't work with Nix because their system runs in WinBlows, and they have no employees that are capable of Nix support, don't agree.

I have run into this exact specific problem with all three of the above named companies....

With AT&T and Verizon, I integrated PPPoE, and the problem was fixed at my end almost immediately, but with cable, that didn't work (btw: FC doesn't use PPPoE).

I understand perfectly well what the companies need to service someones home with a signal, however, the way Comcast explained it to me, was that there is a piece of code that "points" my computer to the signal in one of the Arris router chips that they needed to re-write so my Linux system would recognise it.

I have argued incessantly with Comcast that our "contract" is exclusively and specifically for them to provide access to the end of the router, and they have no other "rights" to enter my system or set up any form of re-direct to said access, including changing my settings, and been told over and over about the "pointer" needing to be re-written being the problem - it was what seems like shear dumb luck that I ran into Comcasts top Tech, who reiterated the need, told me he would access the chip with the part of code that needs to be re-written, and take care of the errant bit of code - three minutes later, my system accessed their home page, google, and my Web Site(s)

With that in mind, I had no choice but to believe he was right - I was up and accesssing, and the connection was solid.

Perhaps I shouldn't have posted that part -

I reiterate - the problem is not with the connection - the problem is in accessing my security programs in my own computer -

And, I didn't enable my Firewall until after I had gained access....

I agree with your statement about entering a system un-authorised would make them evil, but it was the only thing left I couldn't verify, having no access to my own systems settings, and am well aware that all providers do enter your system whenever they want (such as to change the MTU settings on DSL or dial-up accounts) - which is not to mention the 186 back-doors purposely built into WinBlows - that's why I am Linux specific....

And other [pposts, like Peter Apiits' post about his IP tables being changed by his ISP, or J K9's post about RFI exploit problems, Cross Site Scripting, and SQL Invections, or ElGeorges' post on having problems with all the device numbers being changed on all his files. and xchidos' problems with existing and potential security problems his system detected (over in the Security forum) got me thinking about how easy it would be for Comcast to enter my system if they wanted to.... all they would have to do is set up sharing during my start-up sequence, and deny me access to see what had taken place....

Which is exactly my problem - I can't access my system security programs, or any related files that might indicate changes or point to my problems.

I've been on the Net since AOL was a BBS (92), and I've seen a lot wierder things happen - like when MicroSuk got caught trying to infect someones system with a virus, and the guy was running a snifer and Tripwire....

And caught them in the act

The problem was, and remains, systemic - and didn't show up until I accessed the Net via Cable - this system's been up and running flawlessly for almost a year before I connected it to Cable....

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win32sux:

Apparently you posted while I was writing my reply to Electro - I just saw it....

I have no problem with your re-posting the thread over here, I was simply re-stating my opinion that it might not be a hardware issue.

I've been thru similar issues before, and in the end (excluding the present post) it never has been hardware-related

As a matter of fact - thank you for moving it - it opened up the ability for new thought on the subject, and allowed me to re-think what was going on.

After all, checking your systems' hardware is something many of us never think to do, and as far as I got was to do a back-up - checking the hardware would have never have been anything I would have thought to do....

But, I'm glad I did....

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OK - I don't know if this is related, or relevent, but:

I was finally able to set up a link on my taskbar to my System Monitor - and it tells me that my memory is 78% in use, and my processor is 100% in use - even when I'm not using any programs but the Monitor itself....

?????????????

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Please post the output of this (during the abnormal CPU usage):

Those stats are irrelevant to Linux because how it handles processes and memory.

There are no security programs in Linux besides firewall, PAM, SELINUX. It seems they want the domain name or host name of the computer. Linux has two different variables to look for for domain name.

There is no IP tables. You need to learn more about the internet, IP address, MAC, and several other network related topics.

I use a consumer grade router that automatically gets the IP address, DNS. Running a K5 processor for 24/7 365 days a year will consume a lot of electricity for such a simple task that an embedded chip can easily handle. If you want a custom Linux based consumer grade router, you will have to mod a supported DD-WRT device.