Disjointed Kitsch

Well, the saga of crappy tech support from eapps is just about over. After receiving lip service support from my hosting provider I decided to take matters into my own hands. After all, this is my virtual server. The main problem was that the dspam service I use against spam stopped working. It’s never really run correctly since I started hosting with this provider, but it did tag the spam and that’s all I asked. It stopped working when I added a new mailbox to support “blog by email” posting. At that point I had done nothing.

Being the technical type, I investigated. I tried changing permissions and ownership but nothing helped. I did contact tech support and let them know that something was wrong. Here’s the “help” I got.

To cut this story short, I ended up installing my own copy of dspam and in the process figured out why the prior installed version stopped working, which was something they evidently couldn’t/wouldn’t do. Now, while I’ve had reliable service from eapps, I’m not impressed with their tech support. It would appear that all they know how to do is install RPMs and tell you to re-install if you have problems. It’s not good customer support and not a great way to keep customers.

I have learned my lesson, however. The best thing to do when I have a problem is get rid of their installed version and install from a “tar ball”. That way I know what’s actually happening.

I recently had a problem with the spam filtering software that is part of my hosting package at eapps. While it’s never “really” worked since I’ve had the account, it did a good job tagging spam and keeping it out of my mail box. Several months ago, eapps moved some of the servers and since then there have been a number issues related to the configuration of the server and server programs that have had to be fixed.

For the most part I have fixed these items on my own, despite reporting them to the “ticketing” system at eapps. The typical customer service response is to lay the blame at my feet and say “well, you must have done something”. If I were not an internet software developer by trade, that might work. I know how a Linux system works since I’ve built a number of them from the ground up and oversee a server farm of nearly 100 Solaris/Linux servers. I spend my day solving problems on them. However, I pay for the hosting at eapps and expect to be treated with a bit more respect than I’ve been getting. Even if I didn’t know what I was doing, I’d still expect my problems to be taken seriously and looked at from the point of view of “the customer is right”. Even if it ends up that I did something, which I know in this case I didn’t, I’m still paying them to investigate it and tell me it’s my fault.

Ya, I could just re-install since it’s probably a config issue anyway, but it’s the principle of the thing. If I’m going to pay to be called a moron then at least I’d like them to prove to me that I’m a moron.

This morning I let our 4 year old Boston Terrier Lucy out for her morning business. I typically do this during my morning routine of making coffee, ironing, preparing lunch, etc.. While our yard isn’t completely fenced, Lucy has never really wandered off after her first year with us. She usually does her thing and then sits on the top step waiting to be let in. The entire process takes about 10 minutes. If she has to wait longer than that she goes onto the front porch or under it.

This morning I got distracted by an emergency at work. I was checking my work email from home and found out that our VPN that connects our office to our hosting facility in Watertown, MA was on the fritz and things were not right. After getting the ball rolling on several lines of attack, I realized that I had left Lucy outside for about 15 minutes. No bid deal, I’ll just see if she’s on the porch or under it. I came up empty.

Now Yvette is ticked at me since she figures that leaving Lucy unattended is a “bad idea” in general. I’m also going to be late for work, miss my first meeting and still have to deal with VPN outage issues. This Wednesday is off to a “flying” start.

Yvette heads off in the van while I search the neighborhood on foot. Nobody that’s out and about this morning has seen her. As I’m walking back toward the house, I see Lucy coming up the sidewalk in front of our neighbor’s house. She comes when I whistle but stops when she gets close to me. She figures she’s in trouble and wants to make sure I’m not going to yell at her. I don’t (at least not then) and she follows me into the house.

Case closed. I end up being late for work and missing the first 1/2 of the meeting. The VPN problem, however, is solved before I even leave the house and my team is cleaning up the mess. They are good!

First a wandering hamster and now a wondering dog. Makes you wonder if they are chatting at night.

Several weeks ago our 2nd hamster, Oreo, got loose from his cage and disappeared. Although we put out “have a heart” traps, food, etc.. he was not to be found. We were just at the point of giving up and putting his now empty cage in the basement when he showed up!

Our daughter Hannah was downstairs early Monday morning and heard something rustling around in the small trash can that we keep in the living room. As she moved closer to it to investigate, Oreo stuck his head out. Needless to say we were all very excited over finding him. He was a little ragged from lack of food and water, but otherwise in good shape for being gone for about 3 weeks.

Upon being returned to his cage, he promptly ate the seeds, carrots and crackers that were proffered. He slept most of the day and didn’t even run in his wheel.