using Xfinitywifi hotspot 24/7

[shovenose]

I have gigabit Comcast at home which includes access to Xfinitywifi hotspots. I have a spare server that I want to leave at work because it's noisy and power hungry... But at work we have a t1 and it's connected back to corporate... So obviously I'm not allowed on the network. If I put a WiFi card in my server and then use vpn back to my home LAN is that an acceptable use for Xfinitywifi which is available from a surrounding building... Or will they kick me off after X amount of time? Thanks.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I suggest you read the Terms of Use "contract" you agreed to abide by when you signed up for Comcast. My "guess" is after X amount of time and/or X amount of bandwidth or X amount of data is moved across that access point, you will get some unwanted attention. I'm pretty sure a maximum of 5 "guests" are allowed to connect to a hotspot at any one point in time. If you are always hogging one, that too may get you some unwanted attention.

My guess also is your intent to use that connection on a "permanent" basis is not considered an "acceptable use".

And I would guess if I was the one responsible for the bills at your place of work, I would not be happy paying for the energy your "personal" server is consuming 24/7 - especially since you already admitted it is power hungry. If this server is pumping out a lot of heat, paying for the extra energy the facility's HVAC system is using to keep the area cool might be a concern too.

And if I was the insurance company covering your place of work, I would not cover any damage that might be attributed to your personal hardware. I recommend you get written permission from your manager to house your server there before doing so.

Having said all that, my strongest advice is for you to upgrade that server with top quality "quiet" fans and put them in a quality noise-suppressing case. Then get a top quality Gold or Platinum certified PSU that is more efficient and keep this server in your own home and under your direct control.

 

[shovenose]

lol ok i get the point

 

[Bill_Bright]

Hey! I could be totally wrong. I have Cox not Comcast. And while Cox has a similar free hot-spot network, it is intended for Cox subscribers to use "temporarily" when away from home. Comcast may be totally different. That's why I suggested you check your contract. They may not care - though I doubt that.

And of course, I cannot speak for your bosses either. But I know if me, even if I had the boss' permission, not sure I would want my server to be some place nosy co-workers had access to when I wasn't around.

 

[shovenose]

Hey! I could be totally wrong. I have Cox not Comcast. And while Cox has a similar free hot-spot network, it is intended for Cox subscribers to use "temporarily" when away from home. Comcast may be totally different. That's why I suggested you check your contract. They may not care - though I doubt that.

And of course, I cannot speak for your bosses either. But I know if me, even if I had the boss' permission, not sure I would want my server to be some place nosy co-workers had access to when I wasn't around.

yes obviously i was going to get permission from the store manager before i do such a thing. i really wasn't asking about that aspect of it. plus i don't think any of my coworkers even know what a server is (i mean, we have two lenovo thinkservers and they get called everything from "the mainframes" to "the big computers in the office are being noisy again" lol. i was more interested in the comcast portion of the situation. but it's ok, i will colocate my server in a datacenter.

 

[Bill_Bright]

plus i don't think any of my coworkers even know what a server is (i mean, we have two lenovo thinkservers and they get called everything from "the mainframes" to "the big computers in the office are being noisy again" lol.

LOL I hear you there. Good luck finding a good home for your server.

 

[R-T-B]

Theoretically, what you want to do is not a Comcast ToS violation.

However, you will get no port forwarding or anything of that sort on the comcast free wifi.

The free wifi will force you to sign in, and count against your home data cap of 1TB.

These all make it a little harder.

 

[shovenose]

Theoretically, what you want to do is not a Comcast ToS violation.

However, you will get no port forwarding or anything of that sort on the comcast free wifi.

The free wifi will force you to sign in, and count against your home data cap of 1TB.

These all make it a little harder.

I already pay for unlimited data haha. I used 25TB of data last month. I'm under the impression port forwarding doesn't matter if I'm using a VPN? I'll have to experiment.