Thanks. Openreach

So straightforward. No VLAN. Just the creds needed.

Thanks will try.

This is your issue. The ISP router is made en-mass for as cheap as possible.

The features you're attempting to use are more than what your average punter is going to use their connection for.

I've not used ISP issued hardware for about 20 years, as I've always wanted more control over what my connection can and cannot do.

Just my 2 cents.

This has been really interesting even if it's a bit of a zombie. On the one hand you've a point that it should just work. On the other appeal to authority doesn't sit well with most, neither does the generalisation of 'old age pros' or 'networking professionals'. I'm more guilty of it than many.

Picking on a few bits:

In reply to a post by utis:

If I choose to use network/internet monitoring tools like mtr, smokeping RIPE Atlas probe - yes absolutely I need it not limited.

Agreed.

In reply to a post by utis:

One could say real pros have dual power plants, leased line fibre etc.. But reality is when it comes to basics professionals need to question and get things fixed as nothing will get fixed itself. The old age pros philosophy of bug reporting and getting things fixed rather workarounds for each basic bare minimum..

One could also say that old age pros aren't going to use the lower end of the ISP market but instead often one that more closely resembles their mindset. Plusnet then Vodafone are never going to be, what was the phrase?

In reply to a post by utis:

Well if Vodafone goes the way to heavily limit ICMP then this is not going to be recommended broadband by the network profesionals for sure as it becomes much more difficult to monitor with classic networking tools..

That. Yes. I wouldn't touch either of them with a bargepole. I can't speak for every 'old age pro' but I just want things to work and if they don't where I can I take my business elsewhere. Vodafone don't want to be recommended broadband by network professionals they want to sell tons of cheap connections to light residential users requiring minimal bandwidth or support on small margins.

I have two connections so that I can maintain decent standard connectivity even if one of them falters. No leased line here: that's outside of my price range and I prefer the RAID-type approach.

I don't monitor my connections routinely as I don't really care as long as things work. Due to the nature of my specific niche of work I have access to excruciating levels of telemetry on my connections but don't look at it unless there's a problem. This isn't intentional however I have some lab software that connects to a global network and there's heavy telemetry across those tunnels.

I absolutely do not monitor anything professionally from my home as there's no point: the concerns are whether those nodes are responsive and can reach what they need to, not how my own home connection is performing to them. I might shoot a one-off ping to something but for the most part I use either company assets or third party looking glasses. My ISPs can manage their own networks: if they break my services I will certainly make them aware.

I also don't connect anything I don't control to the connection where possible to minimise reliance on third party support. This goes as far as an ONT where issues needed fixing.

It's about how valuable your time is I guess and how you choose to spend it. I prefer to spend more money and less time on things unless they genuinely interest me.

On the other hand I'm getting old, pretty cynical and jaded so few things do interest me anymore. If I'm honest you remind me of me 10-20 years ago. I might well be the one on the wrong path here

That felt really good writing that. Thank you for attending my TED Talk / therapy session.