Internet Backbone Index

Sun Jul 13 22:27:20 UTC 1997

> The router side could turn the argument.  "With a routed backbone, you can
> actually SEE what is happening to your packets.  It is not a hidden unknown,
> thus prone to failure you can not diagnose.  With routers you know it went
> bad at nqu1.  With switches, it just went bad."

Cynics mike argue that lack of end user visibility of network problems
is a compelling argument *for* NSPs to deploy switched backbones ...

("No, our backbone is just fine, { the NAP lost your packet | it got
  stolen by the packet fairies } " etc ...)

Alex Bligh
Xara Networks