Description:
Running a successful Internet Service Provider (ISP) requires excellence in many areas. Good ISPs must keep on top of all the technical issues involved in high-traffic Internet connectivity. They must deal with the public, including its most technically incompetent segments. On top of all that, they have to make a profit in a competitive business environment. ISP Survival Guide does a good job of explaining all sides of the industry. Rather than tie his book to the specifics of particular hardware and software products, Geoff Huston explains ISP technologies without implementation details. He writes at great length about the various interior and exterior routing protocols without mentioning specific products. He also covers the pros and cons of various data-transmission technologies, including ATM, ISDN, Frame Relay, and other systems, in addition to analog modems. Huston pays attention to quality of service issues--a subject that is not well covered elsewhere. ISP Survival Guide also provides insight into the business aspects of running an ISP. Huston provides specific dollar figures that you can use to estimate capital equipment purchase costs and per-account annual maintenance costs. The book also contains advice on doing business with other providers that you're connecting to. --David Wall
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