Just in case you were wondering why your internet is/was down here is what was going on:
Telstra Clears broadband was completly out.
Xtra was having problems with international sites loading very, very slowly.
Other providers were having problems as well, however this was location dependant, pointing towards a likely Telecom problem.
Does any one know of other specific providers who were down?
I imagine many providers are having issues.
So much for the internet being robust… in New Zealand.
I only had 2 people report problems! But I think they were using Telstra Clears DNS servers…
(Ian runs an ISP (that’s an exaggeration))
Isn’t the whole point of the Internet that it can withstand a nuclear (fricken) attack? How did we let it get to this?
The main downfall that most people have is that they are reliant on a single provider for their DNS servers. (A DNS server in basic translates www.diatribe.co.nz into 70.84.67.2 thus where your computer can find the web site).
If you want “indestructable” internet then have broadband with one provider, a back up dial up connection using someone else and use the following DNS servers:
Primary DNS: 60.234.1.1 (Orcon)
Secondary DNS: 202.27.215.14 (Kiwilink)
If your wanting a backup dial up connection grab some prepay hours at netsurf. They last a year and you can get 20 hours for $8.95. You can do it online without even touching the phone but there is help desk if you need it.
Out of curiosity, which ISP are you involved with Ian?
The companies were kinda run down when the owner purchased rently them and we’re working to make them half decent (hopefully). Kiwilink was actually one of the first two ISPs in New Zealand, interestingly enough.
Sorry, I can’t five any discounts though 
[quote=“Exquire”](Ian runs an ISP (that’s an exaggeration))
Isn’t the whole point of the Internet that it can withstand a nuclear (fricken) attack? How did we let it get to this?[/quote]
Well, sure. But sometimes parts of it need maintenance. Sounds fair to me.
And just because one provider is down doesn’t mean you can’t start paying someone else and change some settings. If a Nuke came down and wiped out Xtra (The worlds only good use for nuclear weapons) then we would all just change to someone else and it should work… Except broadband.
That’s a lot of exceptions. Can withstand a nuclear attack except when it needs maintenance? And not broadband? Puh-lease.
Andrew, this wasn’t maintenance. Planned maintenance should happen pretty seamlessly - this was a bungle. Someone screwed up here. I don’t think it’s acceptable that an entire ISP (especially the biggest, and an on-seller) can do down arbitrarily like this. Unacceptable!
Xtra (the biggest and the onseller) didn’t fall over completly. Telstra’s broadband completly fell over.
And Craig, you are thinking of this on too small a scale. The internet can withstand a nuclear attack and come out the other end smiling, no problems. People will need to make adjustments, but the internet will bee all good.
Individual providers are not bullet proof. People make mistakes and equipment has problems.
[quote=“Exquire”]That’s a lot of exceptions. Can withstand a nuclear attack except when it needs maintenance? And not broadband? Puh-lease.
Andrew, this wasn’t maintenance. Planned maintenance should happen pretty seamlessly - this was a bungle. Someone screwed up here. I don’t think it’s acceptable that an entire ISP (especially the biggest, and an on-seller) can do down arbitrarily like this. Unacceptable![/quote]
Planned maintenance should be almost seamless, agreed, but small things go wrong with everything all the time. That’s why there’s things like power surges and electrical fires.
That’s really interesing, I would not have expected Telstra to have had that much impact. I knew Xtra and some UBS services were impacted to varying degrees, but it does not make sense that Telstra lost all service.
Yeah. My Telstra connection at home authenticated no problems and the router sent and recieved with no problems. However couldn’t get a single site.
I had to shoot off to work so I didn’t get a chance to test it, but I can only presume that all their DNS servers went down. :-/
Being in Auckland, I am surprised that you could authenticate if you were on UBS. I guess you were in a lucky URSA. 
Mind you, things got worse before they got better.
You sound like you work in the industry as well Telpe…
Yeah, I am a network support engineer for Alcatel-Lucent - looking after, among other things Telecom’s core IP network.
Aha! That would mean you would know what is going on wouldn’t you!
In the mean time, you wouldn’t happen to know anyone would you?..
Actually we are recruiting at the moment as well 
Most Hamiltonians aren’t too keen on emigrating to Auckland.