Analysis:
After some experimentation, I've determined the following regarding occurrence X on TUNET (Tsuru U's net server).
Facts:
- X is blocking both my AIM and ICQ clients from connecting
- X is also blocking my access to AOL.com and ICQ.com, which would seem to outrule a simple firewall
- X went into effect sometime between noon Monday and 9am Tuesday
- X is affecting both the ethernet and dialup access to TUNET, outruling problems with either individual server or a specific connection within (and leaving me no way around it at present)
- X is affecting all other students I've asked who use TUNET, outruling a fault on my computer's part
- X is not affecting anyone in North America as far as I can determine, outruling the crash of both/either the AOL and ICQ servers
Possibilities:
- X is some sort of protocol or advanced firewall I'm not familiar with that is designed to prevent chat program use on TUNET at all costs (hence the site blockout). Unlikely, considering the relative anonymity of ICQ (why knock out that site as well?) and the continued operation of IRC, but hardly out of the question.
- X is some sort of protocol or advanced firewall I'm not familiar with that has the unfortunate side-effect of blocking both websites and both clients but nothing else. Far too much of a coincidence to be more than remotely likely.
- X is actually a crash of some key net router between Japan (or just Tsuru U) and the servers that house AOL and ICQ. Possible, considering that AOL indirectly owns ICQ and might be housing the servers near each other, but considering that no other sites I visit seem affected, it would still be quite the coincidence.
Conclusion:
- The only certainty is that X is annoying the hell out of me.
- But here's hoping it's possibility #3... that's most likely to get corrected within a day or two.
- Not to mention that correcting the other two options would involve me having to explain the problem in detail to a non-English speaking lab tech. >_<
- Hope to talk to you all on one or the other sometimes in the next week...
Facts:
- X is blocking both my AIM and ICQ clients from connecting
- X is also blocking my access to AOL.com and ICQ.com, which would seem to outrule a simple firewall
- X went into effect sometime between noon Monday and 9am Tuesday
- X is affecting both the ethernet and dialup access to TUNET, outruling problems with either individual server or a specific connection within (and leaving me no way around it at present)
- X is affecting all other students I've asked who use TUNET, outruling a fault on my computer's part
- X is not affecting anyone in North America as far as I can determine, outruling the crash of both/either the AOL and ICQ servers
Possibilities:
- X is some sort of protocol or advanced firewall I'm not familiar with that is designed to prevent chat program use on TUNET at all costs (hence the site blockout). Unlikely, considering the relative anonymity of ICQ (why knock out that site as well?) and the continued operation of IRC, but hardly out of the question.
- X is some sort of protocol or advanced firewall I'm not familiar with that has the unfortunate side-effect of blocking both websites and both clients but nothing else. Far too much of a coincidence to be more than remotely likely.
- X is actually a crash of some key net router between Japan (or just Tsuru U) and the servers that house AOL and ICQ. Possible, considering that AOL indirectly owns ICQ and might be housing the servers near each other, but considering that no other sites I visit seem affected, it would still be quite the coincidence.
Conclusion:
- The only certainty is that X is annoying the hell out of me.
- But here's hoping it's possibility #3... that's most likely to get corrected within a day or two.
- Not to mention that correcting the other two options would involve me having to explain the problem in detail to a non-English speaking lab tech. >_<
- Hope to talk to you all on one or the other sometimes in the next week...