robert m. riches jr.

The question: Can Verizon FIOS activation be done via Linux?

I'd like to have the higher speed of FIOS (for a trivial
price increase relative to DSL), but I only have Linux. A
search of old postings and at

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/vzfiber

shows that Wes Newell apparently activated and is using his
Verizon FIOS with Linux only without any difficulty.
However, others say there is an activation procedure at

http://activatemyfios.verizon.net/

that requires ActiveX. The above activation page refuses to
load on Linux.

So, what's the up-to-date, true answer? Can Verizon FIOS
activation be done via Linux, or would I have to go rent a
Gatesware machine for a day to activate it?

Thanks in advance.

(I have an old Alpha machine and a beta copy of W2K for
Alpha. Maybe that would work. :-)

--
Robert Riches
spamtrap42@verizon.net
(Yes, that is one of my email addresses.)

jean-david beyer

I got FiOS a while ago here in New Jersey. Maybe last March or April.
At the time it was impossible to activate the account without ActiveX. And
it is completely stupid because a simple command line interface or an
ordinary dialog box would do it. IIRC, all it wanted was your name and
password or something like that.

What I did, since I have a Windows License for my old machine, was have the
Verizon Techies hook up the router to the old machine, boot that machine
into Windows XP, change the networking to talk to the router instead of the
other machine, turn off its windows firewall (I forget why we had to do
this), bring up IE, activate it, and disconnect from the router. I then
turned on the Anti-Virus (AVG) and it immediately detected a virus and a
coupla trojans. I then had to set the networking back as it was, since I did
not want the old machine to talk to the Internet or the router.

Now what the Verizon Techies are supposed to do is bring their laptop with
Windows in it so that they can enable the service for you. But mind forgot
theirs, or it did not work, or something. When making the appointment,
insist that they bring their working laptop.

--
.~. Jean-David Beyer Registered Linux User 85642.
/V\ PGP-Key: 9A2FC99A Registered Machine 241939.
/( )\ Shrewsbury, New Jersey http://counter.li.org
^^-^^ 18:05:02 up 6 days, 43 min, 2 users, load average: 4.03, 4.05, 4.00

patrick phillips

I've heard windows and active x is required too. But wonder if the FIOS
installer could just use his Notebook to activate you? Or get someone
with a Laptop over to your place. :-)

But then if VZ #800 tech support is ever needed [and they do ask if
your running windows] and if not they say they can't help.

--
Patrick in IL.

patrick phillips

I wonder what MAC users do to activate, MAC OS doesn't do active x does
it?
--
Patrick in IL.

robert m. riches jr.

Thanks for the information and the suggestion, especially
the part that the techs are supposed to bring their laptop.

--
Robert Riches
spamtrap42@verizon.net
(Yes, that is one of my email addresses.)

robert m. riches jr.

Thanks. This suggestion has been seconded in another branch.

The so-called "tech support" droids for DSL already do that.

--
Robert Riches
spamtrap42@verizon.net
(Yes, that is one of my email addresses.)

robert m. riches jr.

Evidently, they can handle Macs, because the second URL
above (http://activatemyfios.verizon.net) returns the
following:

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv vvvvv
Troubleshooting: Operating System Not Supported

We're sorry, but we detected you are using an unsupported operating system.

This process currently supports:

* Windows 98/ME/2000/XP
* Mac OS X 10.1 and above

To proceed, please upgrade your operating system or use an alternate computer that meets the minimum system requirements.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^

I _HAVE_ an upgraded operating system! It's called
GNU/Linux! Grumble...

--
Robert Riches
spamtrap42@verizon.net
(Yes, that is one of my email addresses.)

bob hauck

I don't know, but Adelphia cable also "requires" IE, ActiveX, and a
direct connection with no firewall to activate. Unless you call them on
the phone and tell them you are using Linux. In that case they will ask
you for the MAC address from the sticker on your modem and will activate
it for you.

IOW, you might try asking Verizon if there is an alternate activation
procedure.


--
-| Bob Hauck
-| A proud member of the unhinged moonbat horde.
-| http://www.haucks.org/

robert m. riches jr.

Thanks for the suggestion. I plan to do that after I have
gathered an armful of ammunition (such as your suggestion)
for the call. (I also plan to ask a few other questions,
such as what happens in a power outage.)

--
Robert Riches
spamtrap42@verizon.net
(Yes, that is one of my email addresses.)

wes newell

Well, DSL reports is correct. I have been using FIOS for some time now. I
don't have a clue what that activation process is. I set mine up myself
using Linux. I didn't have to activate anything. I didn't even use the
router they brought, but used my own. And I sure as hell wasn't
going to let some installer at my keyboard to set it up. Testing later I
also made a direct connection without the use of a router. No problem.
It's just another ethernet connection.

--
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