[NCLUG] Infrastructure changes (slightly OT)

[Sean Reifschneider]

On Mon, Jan 14, 2002 at 08:21:48PM -0700, dobbster wrote:
>we have decided to migrate to a "canned" ordering system called "EdatCat"
>(http://www.edatcat.com).

I'd consider using YahooShops for the ordering portion of the system.
Particularly since new changes in the merchant agreements of many banks now
make the business owner who gets compromised liable for all charges made on
stolen accounts...  It's cheap insurance...

>So...  I have been thinking about various options, and wondering what our best
>route is.  One possibility I've considered is to get a fractional T1

So, you're worried about moving it to a machine that doesn't have RAID,
but not worried about putting it on the end of a sole T1 line?  The first 6
months we had a T1 line, it was up and down all the time because of line
problems.  They finally resolved the stability problems shortly after we
decided to convert to a DSL line.

The networking equivalent of RAID is multiple upstream connections using
BGP -- something you're probably looking at spending around $3k/month for,
but get in the bargain when you move to a colo facility usually.

I don't know how much you're paying for colo space, but most places will
charge less for similar bandwidth on a colo than on a T1.  For a T1 you
have at least $250/month line charges, plus a router at each end you have
to deal with, so it's not suprising it's more expensive.

>(or something comparable; DSL won't do) in our office, create a single LAN with the

DSL won't do?  Better look at something other than a T1 line then -- T1s
around here are delivered on a pair of 768kbps HDSL lines.  ;-P

>2. Is a T1 or fractional feasible?  How much does it cost to set this sort of
>thing up?  If it is feasible, where do I start?

For a T1, you have to pay mileage on the line.  A 0-mile T1 is around
$250/month.  A T1 from Fort Collins to Greeley is around $750/month.  Then
you have to get equipment for your end, and pay for the equipment your ISP
puts on their end.  Monthly charges on a T1 line seem to usually run around
$1500/month -- some more, some less.  UUNet wants around $2500, while he FC
Coop seems to want $500 IIRC for their lower levels of service.

>3. Are there other technologies which would be more appropriate in this case?

Wireless through cwx.net may be an option for providing your office with
non-critical DSL-style service.

>5. If I get lost, I'll have to consult someone.  Any suggestions there?  I've
>heard that tummy.com is good...  :-)

Is there anyone other than us?  ;-)

Sean
-- 
 But I woke up when somone slammed the door so hard I fell outta bed
 screaming "Mama's little baby loves shortnin' bread".  -- Aerosmith
Sean Reifschneider, Inimitably Superfluous <jafo at tummy.com>
tummy.com - Linux Consulting since 1995. Qmail, KRUD, Firewalls, Python