Afrihost Fibre Server at Home

[Bl4d3]

All of the MSAs we sign are under NDA and shouldn't be available publicly, technically.

So in other words, FNO's require users to have business lines to be able to host private servers and be able to access them externally even when not for profit?
Seems like a ridiculous requirement.

With that, are you able to point to the exact term that states this? I've only been able to find this rather ridiculous and limiting term with Afrihost and no other ISP.

 

[Bl4d3]

I think its more an issue when they see large amounts of traffic from outside.

if they see you logging in and doing regular low traffic volumes it would be fine its more when your line is running at 90% speed 24/7 they going to be like ???? UHM *ban hammer*

Whilst I agree with you, thats a very grey area.
Its like saying "speeding is technically illegal and you might get a fine, but the chances of a speed cop being set up are low". Perhaps speeding is a poor analogy for this as that is actually illegal, while hosting a Plex server or Proxmox server isn't, even though it seems to go against Afrihosts terms

 

[cavedog]

I think its more an issue when they see large amounts of traffic from outside.

if they see you logging in and doing regular low traffic volumes it would be fine its more when your line is running at 90% speed 24/7 they going to be like ???? UHM *ban hammer*

That is exactly what happened. Without saying too much because it's under NDA it was traffic volume that initially drew their attention. Of the 3 FNO's that complained 1 went as far as doing a site visit and refusal from the client wanted to terminate services at that premise and remove them from the coverage map to prevent ISP switching.

I want to also be very clear. Uplink capacity is generally just idling as for most Home ISPs as traffic is majority inbound. I don't think any ISP really cares about someone maxing uplink or even hosting stuff on their lines because that traffic is a drop in the ocean.

For lack of a better example, it's basically the same as a man relieving himself next to the road on a long road trip. It's public indecency and against the law but very unlikely a police officer will pull over and arrest or issue a spot fine.

 

[Bl4d3]

@cavedog without mincing any words or using analogies, I have to ask the questions very directly:

Is it against the terms to host a private server for private use on a FTTH line with the FNO's?
If it is, which FNO's impose these restrictions?

Understanding that ISP-FNO agreements are confidential and that you likely may not quote the clauses themselves, it should still be possible to clarify whether the restrictrions applies to ordinary private self hosting and which FNO applies it.

I am being persistent because "private server" is an extremely broad term, for example:

• A synology DistStation or TrueNAS would be considered a server.
• Running Plex or Jellyfin from a spare PC would be considered a server.
• A Raspberry Pi running Home Assistant or Solar Assistant is considered a server.
• Running a small Proxmox box with LXC's and VM's would most certainly be considered a server.

All of the above, even for private use, technically goes against Afrihosts terms of use.

Afrihost’s AUP does not qualify its prohibition according to traffic volume, commercial use, public accessibility or the type of server. It simply prohibits the running of home or private servers.
I understand that Afrihost for example, is unlikely to investigate someone operating a 2 drive NAS, however, the likelihood of enforcement is not the question, the question is whether ordinary private self hosting is actually prohibited under the FNO terms, even when it is non-commercial.

If the restriction actually only applies to commercial hosting, resale, WISPs or sustained high volume traffic (that brings uncapped into question) or services supplied to third parties, that is a materially different answer from saying private servers are prohibited on FTTH

 

[netstrider]

So in other words, FNO's require users to have business lines to be able to host private servers and be able to access them externally even when not for profit?
Seems like a ridiculous requirement.

With that, are you able to point to the exact term that states this? I've only been able to find this rather ridiculous and limiting term with Afrihost and no other ISP.

Honestly, I don't think it's an issue. You even have your answer, no CGNAT on OpenServe.

You would likely start having trouble if you started offering hosting services from your home network though. Because now you're running a business and making money, so... business line. Contention on residential lines are different so it can affect those around you, in theory.

 

[netstrider]

@cavedog without mincing any words or using analogies, I have to ask the questions very directly:

Is it against the terms to host a private server for private use on a FTTH line with the FNO's?
If it is, which FNO's impose these restrictions?

Understanding that ISP-FNO agreements are confidential and that you likely may not quote the clauses themselves, it should still be possible to clarify whether the restrictrions applies to ordinary private self hosting and which FNO applies it.

I am being persistent because "private server" is an extremely broad term, for example:

• A synology DistStation or TrueNAS would be considered a server.
• Running Plex or Jellyfin from a spare PC would be considered a server.
• A Raspberry Pi running Home Assistant or Solar Assistant is considered a server.
• Running a small Proxmox box with LXC's and VM's would most certainly be considered a server.

All of the above, even for private use, technically goes against Afrihosts terms of use.

Afrihost’s AUP does not qualify its prohibition according to traffic volume, commercial use, public accessibility or the type of server. It simply prohibits the running of home or private servers.
I understand that Afrihost for example, is unlikely to investigate someone operating a 2 drive NAS, however, the likelihood of enforcement is not the question, the question is whether ordinary private self hosting is actually prohibited under the FNO terms, even when it is non-commercial.

If the restriction actually only applies to commercial hosting, resale, WISPs or sustained high volume traffic (that brings uncapped into question) or services supplied to third parties, that is a materially different answer from saying private servers are prohibited on FTTH

If you click "host game" and your friend across the country joins you in Baldur's Gate, Enshrouded, etc... that's technically also hosting a server / running a server.

 

[Bl4d3]

If you click "host game" and your friend across the country joins you in Baldur's Gate, Enshrouded, etc... that's technically also hosting a server / running a server.

Exactly, and thats why I'm questioning it because it seems rather silly to use such broad terms

 

[Sparky43]

@cavedog without mincing any words or using analogies, I have to ask the questions very directly:

Is it against the terms to host a private server for private use on a FTTH line with the FNO's?
If it is, which FNO's impose these restrictions?

Understanding that ISP-FNO agreements are confidential and that you likely may not quote the clauses themselves, it should still be possible to clarify whether the restrictrions applies to ordinary private self hosting and which FNO applies it.

I am being persistent because "private server" is an extremely broad term, for example:

• A synology DistStation or TrueNAS would be considered a server.
• Running Plex or Jellyfin from a spare PC would be considered a server.
• A Raspberry Pi running Home Assistant or Solar Assistant is considered a server.
• Running a small Proxmox box with LXC's and VM's would most certainly be considered a server.

All of the above, even for private use, technically goes against Afrihosts terms of use.

Afrihost’s AUP does not qualify its prohibition according to traffic volume, commercial use, public accessibility or the type of server. It simply prohibits the running of home or private servers.
I understand that Afrihost for example, is unlikely to investigate someone operating a 2 drive NAS, however, the likelihood of enforcement is not the question, the question is whether ordinary private self hosting is actually prohibited under the FNO terms, even when it is non-commercial.

If the restriction actually only applies to commercial hosting, resale, WISPs or sustained high volume traffic (that brings uncapped into question) or services supplied to third parties, that is a materially different answer from saying private servers are prohibited on FTTH

Leave all of this, on afrihost just start doing whatever you had planned, and then see how it goes. You won't have issues. They themselves are basically telling you that.

 

[Nephew_]

If Openserve wanted to stop you hosting completely, they would have firewalled it.
If Afrihost wanted to do the same, they would not have given you a built-in DynDNS feature.
I want to connect to home to access my network like a mini-VPN, check some cameras, check my weather station, maybe jellyfin, etc.
All is for personal use.

 

[Bl4d3]

Leave all of this, on afrihost just start doing whatever you had planned, and then see how it goes. You won't have issues. They themselves are basically telling you that.

In the same sense as someone saying that you can speed, there probably wont be a traffic cop with a camera.
Until there is.

All im saying is, the terms they've used can very easily be applied very broadly to just about any customer on their network to shut them down for whatever reason.

If it is such a non-issue, then why does it exist in the first place when the commercial use term already applies elsewhere?

 

[SykomantiS]

Why does Afrihost supply DDNS hostnames to their home customers in the format of http://<username>.ip.afrihost.co.za ... if we aren't allowed to use it?