OpenSRS (Was: Re: [cobalt-users] Was Names4Ever, now OpenSRS)

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

John Burgess wrote:

> The mirror thing would seem to be requirement, but they might not be
> enforcing it. I have seen some posts in this list (or maybe one of the
> OpenSRS lists) from individuals who have been set-up as virtually hosted
> resellers.  Tucows says they require you to be a Tucows affiliate.

Where do they say this?  I just looked over the entire site, and I don't
see it.

> Requirements for affiliates are at
> http://affiliate.tucows.com/application.html.

Yes, but nowhere did I find the statement that you have to be an
affiliate to be in OpenSRS.

> The mirror sites allow you to place some small graphics and links to where
> ever you want.  Since I personally find banner advertising distracting to
> say the least (what I really think of it I shall not say in a public forum),
> I find this to be an acceptable trade off.  The public gets a very good
> repository of free software and other 'stuff' (I do all 7 mirrors),

Take it from me, I'm a Tucows user:  the fact is that I and other users,
look to what we perceive as the "best" place to download.  The guys
we've never heard of we don't click on.  So how much of the public will
really see you.  The key question to ask is for hosting companies to let
us know how many people actually use their Tucows mirrors.  I think of
it as an exercise in futility.

> I
> provide what I feel is a community resource,

Only if people actually look at it and use it as a community resource. 
So tell me, what do your usage logs show?

> and I get some small amount of
> exposure from the mirrors in a setting I find acceptable.  And at some point
> when I have my infrastructure as automated as I want it to be, I might
> actually have time make effective use of the exposure.  I'm not saving on
> any upstream bandwidth, 875 of my Dialup pops are upstream.  I pay for my
> bandwidth too, but not by the byte.

I can pay either way.  I choose to pay by the byte; it's a lot less
expensive.

So my next question is: "What's your inbound data transfer every month
to do updates?"

> I'm not co-located, I built my own NOC.
> (Crazy?  Maybe.  But I'm not accustomed to be told what I can and can't do
> with a network.  I'm using T1's that can sustain maximum theoretical port
> speed indefinitely; the DS3's are in but not turned up yet, so I'm not in
> danger of getting billed for excess port usage), and I monitor and
> dynamically regulate the T1 usage.

Most people don't do what you do.  Do you balance your inbound and
outbound transit?  If you've got more inbound than outbound, you
certainly don't want to suck for mirrors.  If you've more outbound than
inbound, you certainly don't want to add to it by allowing people to
suck from you.

If you've got much more inbound than outbound, Akami will pay you to use
some of your outbound, and will give you the servers to enable it.

As a colocator I have lots of advantages, but building your own NOC
gives you lots of advantages, too, so, no, I don't think you're crazy. 
I'm triple homed at one of my sites, quadruple-homed at another, and
I've got the best bgp guys around working to make sure I'm always
connected.  Can you tell your customers the same?

> It operates on bandwidth that would go
> unused anyway (who wants to waste bandwidth *smile*).  I set the mirror
> traffic to runs at a much lower priority than email, customer web sites,
> etc, so the bandwidth use varies inversely to the amount of revenue
> generating traffic.

So it works for you.  I still think there's better usage for the
bandwidth, but if you don't think so, well that's okay <smile>.

> Payment is made either by a deposit account or you can go thorough the
> process of getting credit setup with them so you can be invoiced.  I presume
> most resellers use deposit accounts because setting up credit can take time.
> You make your deposits with credit cards, checks, bank transfers, etc and
> you then have a pool of 'domain years' against which your registrations are
> applied.  I think the minimum initial account deposit is 50 domain years
> ($500).

$500 is for quickstart; the full package requires only $250.  Sure seems
like it should be the other way around though <wry grin>.

> You keep track of all your account information, change your DNS
> servers, contact information, check your account balance, set up customer
> letters, etc on-line via the web.

You're using quickstart then.  I'd implement it as "full" so I could set
up my own websites to look like Network Solutions.  If I wanted to use
the "web" I'd stay where I am now.  See my previous posts on this and
other lists as to why I consider scripts and templates better than the
"web".

> I've found OpenSRS to be an cost-effective alternative to putting up the
> required bond and paying the required software fees to be an ICANN
> accredited registrar.

Definitely.

> I just wanted to let you know also, I am completely
> independent, and other than hosting the Tucows mirrors

Your concept of "completely independent" is somewhat different than
mine.  You've committed to mirror seven sites a day, and if you don't,
they'll turn off your OpenSRS?  I don't call that "completely
independent".  I've even got a bit of trouble calling it "somewhat
independent" <smile>.  Your mileage may (and probably does) differ
<smile>.

> and being an
> independent reseller using OpenSRS, I am in no way connected with them,

Except that you MUST carry their mirror, complete with its advertising
for what may be your competition (see I did read all the fine print).

> so
> it is really in my best interest to recommend some other registrars reseller
> program to you.  I don't need the competition *smile*.

Not sure I understand.  As long as I'm selling registration, and I sell
it now, to ISPs and hosting companies, then I'm a competitor.

I make no bones about it; my interest in OpenSRS is NOT to save my
customers money.  They can register with me or anywhere else.  It's NOT
to have the lowest price.

It's not even to have a lot of retail business.

It's specifically because no one yet has created a really
ISP/IPP-friendly service, working entirely from templates, with no
advertising and no adverse contracts.  And that's what I want to do.

If you care to get involved in MY project, or to learn how to make some
money with your available outbound bandwidth, let me know.  Maybe you
can do some colocation for me <smile>.

> P.S.
> I saw the Interactive Week Special Report
> (http://www.zdnet.com/intweek/stories/news/0,4164,2473709-3,00.html) that
> you were quoted in.  I wanted to ask you, in what context were your remarks
> made?  The DSL battle or something else?

Specifically the DSL battle.  I think Randy Barrett is pretty
responsible as journalists go; I don't think he'd quote me or anyone
else out of context.  He quotes me quite a bit; I know how to sound
"quotable" <smile>.

Jeff
-- 
Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
nobaloney.net
P. O. Box 52672
Riverside, CA  92517
voice: (909) 787-8589  *  fax: (909) 782-0205