Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["Shea Tisdale" <shea AT sheatisdale.com>]

I sent this on Wednesday Oct. 8th about the same thing.

-----Original Message-----
From: Shea Tisdale [mailto:shea AT sheatisdale.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 8, 2003 1:22 PM
To: 'tgalvin AT verisign.com'
Cc: 'kbare AT verisign.com'
Subject: Internet Users Give Thumbs Up to Site Finder Service 

TO:
VeriSign Media Relations: Tom Galvin, tgalvin AT verisign.com, 202.973.6600
VeriSign Investor Relations: Kathleen Bare, kbare AT verisign.com,
650.426.3241

RE:  Your press release:
http://verisign.com/corporate/news/2003/pr_20031007b.html?sl=070804

I am writing to tell you how appalled I am at your press release
regarding the ill-conceived Site Finder service.  It was bad enough that
in a blatant attempt to make revenue you hijacked the Domain Name System
for your own benefit, worse that you are even considering somehow
continuing it despite the near 100% opposition from ICANN, System and
Network Administrators, the makers of BIND, etc.  But it's completely
unforgivable that you would publish a release such at the one above
where you spread blatant falsehoods and lies in order to promote your
service.  

I specifically refer to your quote from the survey by Markitecture and
Harris Interactive which is included to show supposed support for Site
Finder:
        
"As a heavy but non-technical computer user it has been extremely
frustrating for me to encounter 404 errors. Naturally, they happen at
the busiest times," said Roy S. Lahet, vice president of Planning for
Mercy Behavioral Health. "Alternative suggestions instead of a
project-stopping 404 is a welcome and functional improvement to my use
of the Web and related searches. It is difficult for me to see a
downside to this user friendly enhancement."

As you are the company responsible for the Top Level Domain names, I
would assume you have a basic understanding of how the Internet works.
But apparently you don't.  404 errors are caused when a user requests
non existent documents on a server.  The exact meaning of a 404 error is
as follows:  The first four indicates a client error. The server is
letting you know that you did something incorrectly. The zero indicates
a general syntax or spelling mistake. The second four indicates the
specific error - the requested document was not found.  As the first
part of the explanation clearly indicates, a server must respond.
Therefore a DNS entry must exist. In this case, your DNS wildcard used
for the Site Finder service would not come into play.  You can verify
this by going to the following URL which will generate a 404 error:
http://www.verisign.com/fools

For your Site Finder service to work, the name entered into the client
browser must be one where no DNS entry exists.  Prior to your DNS
Wildcard/Site Finder service, this would return a page to the browser
that indicates something to the effect of: "The page cannot be
displayed" and somewhere on that page it would indicate "Cannot find
server or DNS error".  No 404 would be returned.  You can verify this by
going to the following URL:  http://fools.verisign.com/

Your quote is obviously technically flawed and any "heavy user" of the
Internet should see it for the falsehood it is.  I think it is extremely
telling that you would use such a falsehood to promote such an
ill-conceived and blatant hi-jacking of the DNS system.  Next time,
perhaps you should research the matter further before releasing such a
service and such a press release in support thereof.

Sincerely


Shea Tisdale
shea AT sheatisdale.com
(919) 641-8647

> -----Original Message-----
> From: internetworkers-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:internetworkers-
> bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of zman
> Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 3:39 PM
> To: Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/
> Subject: Re: [internetworkers] Re: Re: network solutions sold
> 
> On Mon, 20 Oct 2003, James Manning wrote:
> > It scares me that Verisign either 1) really believes 404's would be
> > improved by DNS wildcard's or 2) is just outright lying knowing most
> > people won't understand that 404 responses will happen exactly as
> > often as they did before.
> 
> All of this is just one of the reasons I have been moving my domains
off
> of there. I really don't like their whole attitude about the Internet.
> They're just trying to strongarm all the business to them.
> 
> --
> Scott H. Zekanis
> zman AT kungfumonkey.com
> http://www.rod-o-rama.com
> http://www.thehellbenders.com
> 1957 Buick Riviera Hardtop (2 dr., 364" Nailhead)
> 1959 GMC in Chevy Sheetmetal 1/2 Ton (235" Inline 6)
> 
> ---
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