D-Link Sucks
Monday, 19. November 2007, 06:53:43
I've recent bought a rather fancy D-Link PoE Switch, specifically a DES-1316 "Web Smart Switch".
I cannot surf to it using Opera, but I can with IE, Firefox, and even Safari. The reason is that the switch totally violates the HTTP protocol spec and does not output any HTTP headers! All it sends is the content. It's up to the browser to guess what sort of data is coming back!
It also doesn't help when a request for "logo.gif" returns a JPEG image!
I'm absolutely astounded that anybody could come up with such a brain-dead implementation. Heck, I've got an 8-bit microcontroller HTTP server implementation (which includes an Ethernet and TCP/IP stack too) that manages to conform to the HTTP protocol in less than 32KB. I'm sure the switch has a little more grunt behind it than that.
I'm also disappointed that the other browsers, especially Firefox and Safari (I have no expectations from IE), actually accept this rubbish.
The D-Link response to my emailed query was also predictable:
And why should D-Link withdraw their heads from their rear passages when other browsers are being so "nice"?
This looks like another case where Opera have to once again descend into the gutter...
298653
s/Smart/Dumb/
I cannot surf to it using Opera, but I can with IE, Firefox, and even Safari. The reason is that the switch totally violates the HTTP protocol spec and does not output any HTTP headers! All it sends is the content. It's up to the browser to guess what sort of data is coming back!
It also doesn't help when a request for "logo.gif" returns a JPEG image!
I'm absolutely astounded that anybody could come up with such a brain-dead implementation. Heck, I've got an 8-bit microcontroller HTTP server implementation (which includes an Ethernet and TCP/IP stack too) that manages to conform to the HTTP protocol in less than 32KB. I'm sure the switch has a little more grunt behind it than that.
I'm also disappointed that the other browsers, especially Firefox and Safari (I have no expectations from IE), actually accept this rubbish.
The D-Link response to my emailed query was also predictable:
...we do not officially support Opera browser on the DES-1316. We would like to suggest you use Firefox or IE6/7...
And why should D-Link withdraw their heads from their rear passages when other browsers are being so "nice"?
This looks like another case where Opera have to once again descend into the gutter...
298653
WIDGETIZE
robodesign # 19. November 2007, 15:29
What the heck? Since when does a PoE Switch need to *specifically* support a browser? Shouldn't it work with *any* Internet application?
Doesn't D-Link provide an option to disable such HTTP header 'filtering'?
Kelson # 19. November 2007, 17:08
...Wow. Just. Wow. I have no other words.
Actually, I do, but they're not appropriate for polite company! :-)
IceArdor # 19. November 2007, 19:10
O07 # 20. November 2007, 11:42