[Linuxcommand-announce] [LinuxCommand.org: Tips, News And Rants] In Praise Of Panix

[William S. <bs...@pa...>]

During the editing of my book, one of my reviewers suggested that it
would be cool if there could be an on-line shell host that readers
could use to play with command line stuff while reading the book. While
this is an interesting idea, it's not really practical for me to do.

If you have ever received an email from me, you know that my email
address contains the domain "panix.com." What is Panix? Therein lies a
tale.

Panix (short for Public Access Network Corp.) is a small, regional ISP
located in New York City. According to Wikipedia, it is also the third
oldest ISP in the world. They do the usual ISP stuff plus something
special. They provide shell accounts. In fact, one of their slogans
is "Your $HOME Away From Home." Here is a quote from their web site:

Panix has been providing shell accounts and Internet connections since
1989 —nearly twenty years! During that time we've developed a
reputation for technical know-how, reliability and customer service
unmatched by today's Internet "superstores". If you're looking for
access to a professionally-maintained UNIX host, with the latest
versions of all your favorite newsreaders, mailers, compilers and
internet clients —and if you want your home and email address to be
good for the rest of your life, not just until some DotCom.CEO decides
that shell services aren't profitable enough to keep running— you want
a Panix account.

We are all shell users ourselves, and we are shell snobs. We know a
well-maintained UNIX shell is indispensable for serious programmers,
web developers and net fiends. Nothing else gives you as much control
over your operating environment, nothing else is as flexible. You know
that, we know that, and that is why Panix will always make shell access
our first service.

I'm not sure when I started using Panix, probably around 1996 and they
have been my faithful partner ever since. Now since I don't live in
NYC, I don't use Panix for my Internet connectivity. I'm a Verizon FiOS
customer at present, but you can still use Panix even if they are not
your "primary" ISP.

Panix offers an account called a "No-dial: Full Shell, Remote Login
Only" which allows you to use SSH to reach your Panix shell account.
>From there you can access a huge array of command line programs and
tools. Included with the account is web hosting, email (accessible
directly from the shell with a text mail reader, or remotely via POP or
IMAP), USENET access, and 500 MB of disk storage.

In addition to the services, there is the Panix community. Panix
maintains their own hierarchy of USENET newsgroups for access within
the Panix system. Here you will find a vibrant collection of Unix
people and other colorful characters. There is also frequent
interaction with the system administrators who are very experienced and
knowledgeable. You can learn a lot just hanging around.

The No-dial account costs $10/month or $100/year if you prepay.



So if you want to experience what a large, multi-user Unix system (they
run NetBSD) is like, give them a look

--
Posted By William Shotts to LinuxCommand.org: Tips, News And Rants at
1/20/2010 03:16:00 PM