ntl statement regarding recent proxy issues

**Mick** · 28-09-2005, 19:45

I have received a statement today from ntl Internet Team regarding the recently reported proxy issues:-

"ntl is aware that a small number of customers have trouble accessing particular websites as a result of caching. For the last 5 years, ntl has used caches to improve the speed of response for all web traffic. This is in line with a number of other ISPs.

When the cache does not have the requested pages stored, the cache will retrieve the page from the required server. The cache will present its own address when requesting the page, not that of the customer. Unfortunately some servers can misinterpret the requests from the cache as being a denial of service attack. The administrator of the site then blocks the request for information. To resolve this ntl actively contacts the administrator to have the block lifted. Customers are equally able to report issues in accessing a site to the administrator to expedite their particular issue.

Using proxy caches improves the performance of the network for all customers by supplying regularly accessed content from local servers. To put this into perspective, just 3 requests to have blocks lifted are processed each week from our 1.5 million broadband customer base. Even so, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and if necessary investigate other alternatives."

rogerdraig · 28-09-2005, 20:05

yep great statement

but as most who have problems have no idea what a proxy is how are they going to tell ntl or others sites what the problem is

IanUK · 28-09-2005, 20:06

Quote:

To put this into perspective, just 3 requests to have blocks lifted are processed each week from our 1.5 million broadband customer base

Hmm, this is probably accurate as most people just think the site they want is down or slow or broken, a lot more people than that complained about steampowered.com to NTL on the steam website alone in one day (or said they did anyhow)

Quote:

Even so, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and if necessary investigate other alternatives.

A little ray of hope then..

Perhaps if they really are serious about monitoring closely then they could provide an email address to directly report (suspected) proxy problems ?

**Paul** · 28-09-2005, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick

Even so, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and if necessary investigate other alternatives."[/B]

Hmm, how about range of ip addresses at each ubr site that won't get intecepted, and the option for customers to use this range (for a small extra charge).

Florence · 28-09-2005, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick

Using proxy caches improves the performance of the network for all customers by supplying regularly accessed content from local servers. To put this into perspective, just 3 requests to have blocks lifted are processed each week from our 1.5 million broadband customer base. Even so, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and if necessary investigate other alternatives."[/B]

Perhaps this is correct I have been using proxies from bagu and renf and move to these as soon as I have a problem. Many other customers just proxy dance until they find one that will connect them. I must admit that the time when Manchester had no proxies I found the website loading quicker and all sites worked first time..

Chrysalis · 30-09-2005, 15:10

That statement doesnt address quite a few issues.

1 - it only addresses site's that block the proxies but not sites that simply just not work and random timeouts.

2 - It doesnt address that when people report problems to tech support they are not escalated hence them saying 3 requests per week.

3 - "ntl is aware that a small number of customers have trouble accessing particular websites as a result of caching" should be rephrased to "ntl is aware that a small number of customers have noticed that there can be problems accessing particular websites as a result of caching"

4 - "This is in line with a number of other ISPs." The only other isp in the uk that uses transperent proxies is AOL but their's work properly.

I know this is negative but NTL are just avoiding the issues with that statement.

IanUK · 30-09-2005, 17:26

Another posting today also (http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ad.php?t=35882), listing 2 sites that don't work here on Poplar, but do at other NTL sites, said poster also said it affected lots of NTL users, but presumably none of them contacted NTL because they just thought the sites weren't working.

Gamespy vids are not working here properly, Colchester proxy brings them in.

The proxies are crap, we are sick of words - how about actions to fix them ?

01-10-2005, 14:47

I've just been running through the swansea caches trying to find one that will work with Intel.com and found that cache 1,2 ,3 are not getting through.

How who and where do i report this problem, i did try cs a while back re this constant problem but was told there are no problems with swansea poxies, but every day i try Intel.com and every day i cannot get there without resorting to faffing about with the proxy.
As usual it is everybodys fault except NTL

j52c · 01-10-2005, 16:25

Interesting........

http://www.dnsstuff.com/

I get this error on the first page.
DNSStuff

WARNING: You are using a web proxy that is currently being abused by malware.
Please go here for more details http://banned.dnsstuff.com/pages/abuse.htm. The web proxy IP is 213.104.***.***

Wondered what the problem was.

simbr · 01-10-2005, 18:26

It means either someone on the manchester proxies is being naughty, or most likely they're overreacting to having received a lot of hits from the proxy and treating it as one person, rather than a whole swathe of the country.

Florence · 01-10-2005, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by j52c

Interesting........

http://www.dnsstuff.com/

I get this error on the first page.
DNSStuff

WARNING: You are using a web proxy that is currently being abused by malware.
Please go here for more details http://banned.dnsstuff.com/pages/abuse.htm. The web proxy IP is 213.104.***.***

Wondered what the problem was.

I would suggest using renf or bagu proxys as Manchester ones keep getting banned.

Ignition · 02-10-2005, 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by j52c

Interesting........

http://www.dnsstuff.com/

I get this error on the first page.
DNSStuff

WARNING: You are using a web proxy that is currently being abused by malware.
Please go here for more details http://banned.dnsstuff.com/pages/abuse.htm. The web proxy IP is 213.104.***.***

Wondered what the problem was.

Probably a virused customer.

Florence · 02-10-2005, 09:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ignition

Probably a virused customer.

lol nice Igni it happens so many times I just never go through Manc proxies anymore if I want DNSstuff I use my backup proxies and it works everytime.. Some bad ppl in Manchester supprised NTL let them lose on the net....

j52c · 02-10-2005, 10:37

Oh dear.

I don't use dns stuff that often, only when I am waiting for a domain name to be registered, that when I got the error page up.

Used to be on 'brnt' before somehow it changed to Manchester.

Florence · 02-10-2005, 11:50

I have found this site works ok for whois and has never been blocked on a manc proxy. also Samspade has never blocked Manc proxies If they are any use to you.