GigaRouter (Was Re: Cisco as Big Brother))

Mon Oct 21 14:15:28 UTC 1996

On Mon, 21 Oct 1996 alex at relcom.eu.net wrote:

> (1) when PC-based router became out of memory, I have to add some more memory -
> I pay about 200$ for extra 16Mb of ram, and that's all;

Yep, right now I am using 64 megs.

> (2) when PC-based router became out of CPU, it can be upgraded to the
> faster CPU easy. Intel's power increases draqmatically every month, and I have'not
> pay extra 100,000$ for the new super/giga/huge-ROUTER (as 7513) -
> I pay new 1,500$ and get new PC with Pentium/200, for example.
> And I know there would be available better processor in next 6 month -
> and I would'not have to pay next 100,000$ (or I there have to pay
> new 20,000$ for the new CS4700, for example - why can't I change
> CPU in CS4500, or why can't I add extra 32Mb of the RAM into my CS4500,
> and WHY have I to pay 3,500$ for the 32Mb ram if this RAM costs
> 600$ on the free market???).

Yes, but you can't get the speed out of the PC. I don't care how fast your
CPU is, it will be slower then port to port switching. Don't get me wrong,
I am a big fan of PC routers. I think I am the only one with a PC router 
at MAE-East (will be upgraded to a NetStar or cisco in 4 days). I started
Netrail when I was 18, and no one would give me big money and I wanted to
peer at MAE-East and play with the big guys. I did not have the money to
upgrade all of our 4000s to 7000s, so we built PC routers. I think it was
the best thing we did. 

Ok, now we are building a OC3 and DS3 backbone and a PC can't come close
to the PPS a cisco or NetStar can. My only question is should I go with
the NetStar/Cascade or just cisco network?

Nathan Stratton		  CEO, NetRail, Inc.    Tracking the future today!
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