What's *nix? On what grounds could I contact an ISP and get any info? Would I have to say or somehow suggest something in particular in order for them to give me info?

(For example, I know if you dial "0" and say "drop line" and nothing else, the operator will give you the number of the line you are calling from. if you say anything else and THEN "dropline" or ask for it - they won't give it to you.)