From: John Gossett <jgos...@arlut.utexas.edu>
Subject: Linux ISP questions
Date: 1995/07/13
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.950713132458.4161A-100000@csdsun1.arlut.utexas.edu>#1/1
X-Deja-AN: 106190199
organization: Applied Research Laboratories - The University of Texas at Austin
content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
mime-version: 1.0
newsgroups: comp.os.linux.networking
Hello,
My ex-boss and I are researching what it takes to start an Internet Service
Provider business. Although he leans towards a Sun computer and OS, I
want to check out if we can get started with much less capital by
installing a Linux Pentium 120 as our ISP machine. I would like to begin an
e-mail discussion with Linux ISP's about hardware and software
requirements, pitfalls, and system reliability.
If you are an internet service provider, I would greatly appreciate your
time in assisting us with our research.
Please e-mail me at: jgos...@arlut.utexas.edu
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Gossett Research Engineering Assistant
University of Texas: Applied Research Labs
Standard Disclaimer: These views may not reflect my employer's views.
My Disclaimer: I fully claim responsibility for the above views.
Quote: "Get over it!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: pa...@wice.xs4all.nl (Paul J Stevens)
Subject: Re: Linux ISP questions
Date: 1995/07/14
Message-ID: <3u6iio$77@wice.xs4all.nl>#1/1
X-Deja-AN: 106190226
references: <Pine.SOL.3.91.950713132458.4161A-100000@csdsun1.arlut.utexas.edu>
organization: Worldwide I.C.E., Utrecht, The Netherlands
newsgroups: comp.os.linux.networking
John Gossett (jgos...@arlut.utexas.edu) wrote:
> Hello,
> My ex-boss and I are researching what it takes to start an Internet Service
> Provider business. Although he leans towards a Sun computer and OS, I
> want to check out if we can get started with much less capital by
> installing a Linux Pentium 120 as our ISP machine. I would like to begin an
> e-mail discussion with Linux ISP's about hardware and software
> requirements, pitfalls, and system reliability.
> If you are an internet service provider, I would greatly appreciate your
> time in assisting us with our research.
> Please e-mail me at: jgos...@arlut.utexas.edu
Since I am doing exactly the same, I was wondering if perhaps I might
peek in on some of the feedback this produces. Just like John I'd like
to figure out how IRIX, Solaris and Linux compare from an ISP's point
of view, and how the respective hardware configs compare in terms of
speed, upgradability, maintenance-requirements, cost/performance of
peripherals, expected lifetimes, etc.
If, for instance, there are any lists discussing these issues I'd be
more than happy to hear about them.
--
Paul Stevens
Utrecht, The Netherlands
pa...@wice.xs4all.nl
TEL: +31.30.871995
From: mic...@okjunc.junction.net (Michael Dillon)
Subject: Re: Linux ISP questions
Date: 1995/07/15
Message-ID: <3u8p1a$1n7@felix.junction.net>#1/1
X-Deja-AN: 106190083
references:
<Pine.SOL.3.91.950713132458.4161A-100000@csdsun1.arlut.utexas.edu>
<3u6iio$77@wice.xs4all.nl>
organization: Okanagan Internet Junction, Vernon B.C., Canada
newsgroups: comp.os.linux.networking
In article <3u6iio$7...@wice.xs4all.nl>,
Paul J Stevens <pa...@wice.xs4all.nl> wrote:
>John Gossett (jgos...@arlut.utexas.edu) wrote:
>
>Since I am doing exactly the same, I was wondering if perhaps I might
>peek in on some of the feedback this produces. Just like John I'd like
>to figure out how IRIX, Solaris and Linux compare from an ISP's point
>of view, and how the respective hardware configs compare in terms of
>speed, upgradability, maintenance-requirements, cost/performance of
>peripherals, expected lifetimes, etc.
I don't know of any ISP's using IRIX except for dedicated WWW server
machines. There are quite a few ISP's using SUN equipment but most of
them stick with SunOS rather than Solaris.
The advantages Linux has over most other OSes follow:
- hardware is inexpensive and readily available
- spare parts and repair service can be gotten anywhere anytime
- the software you need is already ported and running on Linux
- there is lots of support available on the linuxisp list and USENET
- today's Pentium hardware is quite powerful
- there is a linux security mailing list to warn you when problems are found
Disadvantages
- some people are tempted to buy ultra-cheap hardware.
- people who have the SUN religion look down on you with your toy computers
- some people are tempted to NOT use a terminal server. Do yourself a
favour and buy a real terminal server
--
Michael Dillon Voice: +1-604-546-8022
Memra Software Inc. Fax: +1-604-542-4130
http://www.memra.com E-mail: mic...@memra.com
From: d...@cistron.nl (Danny ter Haar)
Subject: Re: Linux ISP questions
Date: 1995/07/17
Message-ID: <3ueefk$4vm@picard.cistron.nl>
X-Deja-AN: 106438022
references:
<Pine.SOL.3.91.950713132458.4161A-100000@csdsun1.arlut.utexas.edu>
<3u6iio$77@wice.xs4all.nl> <3u8p1a$1n7@felix.junction.net>
organization: Cistron Internet Services - the Netherlands
newsgroups: comp.os.linux.networking
mic...@okjunc.junction.net (Michael Dillon) wrote:
>
>I don't know of any ISP's using IRIX except for dedicated WWW server
>machines. There are quite a few ISP's using SUN equipment but most of
>them stick with SunOS rather than Solaris.
We are an ISP using both Linux and suns (and since yesterday DEC AXP)
>The advantages Linux has over most other OSes follow:
>
>- hardware is inexpensive and readily available
for starters a real plus
>- spare parts and repair service can be gotten anywhere anytime
low down times ....
>- the software you need is already ported and running on Linux
PLUS sources available, you want to change something ? go right ahead ..
>- there is lots of support available on the linuxisp list and USENET
Best helpdesk thereis IF you ask it the right way ;-)
>- today's Pentium hardware is quite powerful
>- there is a linux security mailing list to warn you when problems are found
>
>Disadvantages
>
>- some people are tempted to buy ultra-cheap hardware.
but the hardware FAQ helpes you a little there
We too were thinking a NE2000 would be ok until proven that eg a WD or 3com
really works better, faster with less CPU load ....
>- people who have the SUN religion look down on you with your toy computers
That is something you have to be very carefull about !
I always challenge people to bring down our Linux account machine. Even
crashme won't do that. Our axil (sun clone) with sunos4.1.4 i can reboot
as stupid user with crashme within 1 minute ...
Sun is more stable in other things (networking , NIS) but a user CAN
bring it down quite easy ...
>- some people are tempted to NOT use a terminal server. Do yourself a
> favour and buy a real terminal server
hmm ??
We are using 2 linux boxes with cyclades cards. One of them has 15 V34 modems
attached to it and is doing al the rlogin/PPP/(C)SLIP connections by itself.
The interrupts on the cyclades are always more than the amount of irq's from
the system timer ! It works like a charm !!!
Some actual data from one of our terminal servers:
Linux version 1.2.11 (miq...@Q.cistron.nl) (gcc version 2.6.3) #1 [cs-1.alphen.cistron.nl]
Memory: Total Used Free Shared Buffers
Mem: 7056 6884 172 4624 2588
Swap: 8244 276 7968
Bootup: Mon Jul 10 08:48:20 1995 Load average: 0.00 0.02 0.00 1/27
user : 0:08:36.55 0.1% page in : 12511 disk 1: 387791
nice : 0:00:00.00 0.0% page out: 394437
system: 0:58:24.93 0.5% swap in : 54895
idle : 7d 11:44:26.18 99.4% swap out: 246
uptime: 7d 12:51:27.65 context : 4097282
irq 0: 65108766 timer irq 8: 0
irq 1: 8 keyboard irq 9: 0
irq 2: 0 cascade+ [4] irq 10: 90937927 cyclades+
irq 3: 45084395 serial+ irq 11: 0
irq 4: 261825 serial+ irq 12: 0
irq 5: 0 irq 13: 1 math error
irq 6: 0 irq 14: 1255026 ide0+
irq 7: 0 irq 15: 8108964 ne2000
------------------------------------
Current users
cs-1.alphen.cistron.nl running Cistron LoginServer 0.1 (Linux 1.2.11)
9:40pm up 7 days, 12:51, 11 users, load average: 0.12, 0.05, 0.01
Login Name What Idle TTY Host When Where
dth Danny ter Haar p0 cs-1.alp Mon 21:39 riker
franken Nick Franken PPP 0:48 44 cs-1.alp Mon 20:51 port13.alphen.cistr
tborn Ton van der Born PPP 0:41 01 cs-1.alp Mon 20:58 port15.alphen.cistr
bvhemert A.C.W. van Hemert PPP 1:12 45 cs-1.alp Mon 20:27 port14.alphen.cistr
gerald Gerald Sturm PPP 0:01 43 cs-1.alp Mon 21:39 port12.alphen.cistr
kkoster Koen Koster PPP 0:10 42 cs-1.alp Mon 21:29 port11.alphen.cistr
kees Kees Tiebout PPP 0:12 41 cs-1.alp Mon 21:27 port10.alphen.cistr
sjaakvdl J.G. v/d Linden PPP 0:24 37 cs-1.alp Mon 21:16 port06.alphen.cistr
jjanssen J.W.H Janssen PPP 0:35 36 cs-1.alp Mon 21:04 port05.alphen.cistr
lenmoret Len Moret PPP 0:05 34 cs-1.alp Mon 21:34 port03.alphen.cistr
janmart Jan Martin Krijgs PPP 0:07 33 cs-1.alp Mon 21:32 port02.alphen.cistr
Greetings,
Danny
--
d...@cistron.nl | I don't care who you are, you are not
Danny ter Haar | walking on the water while I'm fishing
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