Things that WBS still need to implement before April 2005 iBurst launch...

[ic]

A few minutes back I was going to create this thread only to debate whether WBS should provide us with a secure online Username/Password changer form (like what Telkom have had to provide for ADSL users). Then I remembered that there are a few other things that WBS need to deliver before launch in April 2005.

1. Telkom ADSL helpdesk people can see a customer's username & password in the clear on their monitors. It is fact (if you do not believe it you can debate it in the ADSL section). Some ADSL MyADSLrs have reported that their account gets hijacked and their capped bandwidth used by hijackers, the only logical/viable suspects being Telkom employees.
   
   In contrast with ADSL, WBS' iBurst uses proprietary hardware, that similar to a cell phone has a hardware ID, the h/w ID is called a UTID.
   
   My understanding (after the recent WBS db change) is that WBS authenticate iBurst connections using UTID+username+password, which are all linked to a single account (presumably).
   
   Therefore, it may or may not be possible to do the same hijacking of our capped 3Gig bandwidth on iBurst, due to the UTID (presumably) being used together with username & password for authentication. Perhaps a test is in order to verify that.
   
   The question I have is this: if WBS only allow that one piece of hardware (UTID) to connect under your account, then why do we even need a username & password? Is it merely redundancy, or is there a real risk of bandwidth hijacking? You could say: in case the UT was stolen, I say let the thief use the bandwidth, while you report the UT stolen & WBS report the thief's location to the police...
   
   I am guessing the answer will dictate whether we need an SSL secured online form for changing username & password on our iBurst accounts.
2. Bandwidth Usage Tracker that shows in detail, daily upload & download stats, preferably separated into local & international, and preferably with no more than a 30 minute update delay.
3. eMail: the pre-launch contracts include email accounts (POP3) that are supposed to be implemented sometime before the actual launch in April.
4. A service interruption/degradation notification system- something like the SAIX severity 1 thing (or what it should be). You should be able to receive notifications via email, as well as view them online.
5. What have I left out?

[stepper]

For a broadband virgin like me...
I dont think u left anything out, lets hope this get to WBS ASAP.

[anakin]

Soon...

[aborg]

An e-mail server? Is there one? If so details plz.

[ic]

Nay, not yet.

PS: aborg did you experience the deranged traffic light / disco effect starting ~23:44?

[rebel]

The iBurst can see your password as well. When I called the call centre last week to resolve an XP 'username/password' error, the guy who was assisting me told me what my password was.

[aborg]

ic - yeah i did but it only lasted for a minute or two and disappeared.

[anakin]

Our guys have been looking for the derranged traffic light, and cannot find the source of this. IC, please call me if you come across this during the day - I hope I'll have the radio guys available to monitor it during the time it occurs.

[ic]

Hi Anakin, the problem is it happens sporadically, less frequently of late, but I will definitely call you when it happens during the day. I am convinced that it is some non-WBS radio interference.

[TheRoDent]

WBS needs to implement a marketing/product manager with a brain before this product goes anywhere.

[ic]

Soon...

Does WBS intend to have points 2 & 3 on the list (POP3 accounts & online usage tracker stats) in place before the cap is implemented?

[ghostim]

A service interruption/degradation notification system- something like the SAIX severity 1 thing (or what it should be). You should be able to receive notifications via email, as well as view them online

Hhhm I think I would prefer an SMS because how i'm going to read email/webpage if there is no iburst connection. ?

Anakin :
Maybe WBS should talk to Pierre from Stouf about an SMS gateway

[ic]

...how i'm going to read email/webpage if there is no iburst connection. ?...

True if you cannot connect, you won't be able to get email or get to a WBS bulletin board (doesn't exist yet), but consider this problem scenario...

I agree that smsz would be a nice to have - in case of a network outage / planned downtime, but would you be prepared to pay extra for sms notifications? I would not want to pay extra!- if you use both ABSA's IB & FNB's IB you will know what I'm getting at.

I suspect that if an outage lasted a few hours, you would be calling the Wookies anyway.

Perhaps WBS can consider a limited trial sms notification system, and then survey us later to find out if it is really worth it.

The bottom line is - there have been plenty of Burst-i problems, that despite incredible odds, one was still able to browse to iBurst.co.za, only to find 0 notices about the problem or when it would be fixed.

[ghostim]

Notice board / email is fine for planned downtime, but the unplanned ones are the problem. We plan to use iburst for VPN/support to the main serverroom and the DR site.

[ic]

Notice board / email is fine for planned downtime, but the unplanned ones are the problem. We plan to use iburst for VPN/support to the main serverroom and the DR site.

I was planning to use iBurst for hosting 3 micro-size businesses sites & mail server, but I have decided that ADSL is required for hosting, iBurst is somewhat dodgy right now on uploading (also a problem back in November), just open all the iBurst testing URLs in FF tabs & compare the upload speeds on the graphs- there are quite a few with highly variable upload speeds, and IMO, when the stuttering/unresponsiveness thing is happening, the upload speed == 0.