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#! rnews 3002 sserve.cc.adfa.oz.au Xref: sserve comp.os.linux.networking:10306 comp.os.ms-windows.networking.tcp-ip:13040 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:3725 Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!simtel!vtc.tacom.army.mil!ulowell.uml.edu!wang!news.kei.com!news.mathworks.com!panix!not-for-mail From: stimpson@panix.com (Joel Katz) Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.networking,comp.os.ms-windows.networking.tcp-ip,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc Subject: Re: Internet service providing-which OS? Date: 22 Jul 1995 03:39:27 -0400 Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC Lines: 49 Message-ID: <3uq9vf$3d0@panix3.panix.com> References: <3ue5qa$ain@panix.com> <id.VAPL1.0SA@nmti.com> <3uhstv$pf@empire.texas.net> <3uj157$lpr@lonepeak.wasatch.com> <id.0ASL1.EQ9@nmti.com> <3upiqd$nnk@lonepeak.wasatch.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: panix3.panix.com In <3upiqd$nnk@lonepeak.wasatch.com> bobh@wasatch.com (Bob Hauck) writes: >In article <id.0ASL1.EQ9@nmti.com>, peter@nmti.com (Peter da Silva) writes: >|> In article <3uj157$lpr@lonepeak.wasatch.com>, >|> Bob Hauck <bobh@wasatch.com> wrote: >|> > And how much does a "big" PC cost? Well, remember that you don't need >|> > a big monitor, or sound, or fancy video in a terminal server. You can >|> > get a suitable Pentium or 486/100 for under $2000 or so without trying >|> > too hard. Ok, throw in some high-end disk drives and 32 MB of RAM and >|> > the cost goes up to $3500. >|> >|> It's less than that. >|> >|> Why do you need lots of RAM and a big disk drive to run PPP? >Well, the answer is that you don't, if PPP is all you're doing. >But if you're running an ISP, it might be nice to support some >interactive logins, news, an ftp server, a named, and a web server. >For those things, a big hard drive and lots of memory helps, esp >for news. >The other poster was suggesting that a workstation was required >to be an ISP. I was trying to say that Linux might be more cost- >effective for many. It is still important to remember that starting an ISP (even a small one) takes a lot of equipment and a lot of expertise. Linux is, however, quite practical for use as a Web server, name server, mail host, terminal server, and so on. The Epicenter Network (epinet.com) used to be run exclusively on three Linux systems: one was a terminal server and second name server, one was a primary name server, web server, mail host, and the last was the news server. Linux performed perfectly. Internet Gateway Connection (igc.net) uses Linux for name servers and web servers. They have not reported any Linux problems. (except with 1.3.10, but it's their fault for using an ALPHA kernel) I'm now setting up a third ISP that will be run using exclusively Linux systems. Still have not had a Linux-related problem with a non-ALPHA kernel. -- Joel Katz -- Stimpson@Panix.COM Finger for PGP 2.6 Key Information on Objectivism, Atheism, the 8031/8051 Microcontrollers, Linux and more is available at "http:www.panix.com/~stimpson/".