Hi Robbie,  You commented on my contribution to 020123 MMDigest:

>[ Editor's note:
>[ The Internet is often overloaded and extremely slow
>[ during "rush hours" ...
>[ Launch MS-DOS prompt ...
>[ type C:\>tracert 207.212.80.187 ...
>[ But why does your web browser report "Cannot connect to ..."?
>[ Now type  C:\>ping mmd.foxtail.com   If replies are not
>[ returned then you can suspect that your ISP's DNS (Domain
>[ Name Server) has failed, so contact your ISP and complain!

Okay, another way is to use other name servers within good reach;
normally you can state two DNS's in a Windows system.  Just try those
listed at the end of a 'whois' query (and verify they will have a
good performance).

Of course you can run your own DNS services on your machine, but
normally a simple statement of oft-used IP-number/names-translations
in your 'hosts' file will abbreviate the way and boost connecting.

Try this one (use any plain editor):

  207.212.80.187  mmd.foxtail.com         # I love Fuchsschwanz :-)

Additional surplus: dealing with IP-numbers instead of names is a big
complication for a 'man in the middle'-attack and/or spoofing.

Servus!

Claus Kucher

 [ MMDers using Juno.com service could not connect to
 [ mmd.foxtail.com because the Juno DNS had failed.  Typing the
 [ IP address for MMD (http://207.212.80.187/) is a simple
 [ alternative to the work of finding an alternate DNS.
 [ -- Robbie  ("mmd.fuchsschwanz.com" ;-)