Re: MCI and SprintLink are partitioned (fwd)

[bmanning () ISI EDU]

> > >  . are all three (four?) NAPs really being used 
> >     Yes.  for some value of "used".
>
> That answer is close to meaningless. Please give me your metric.

        Since they are neutral exchanges, w/o policy, I can only 
        speak for for my project. I can't speak for any of the 
        other sites that are attached.  The RA has active peering
        sessions at all the NAPS.  We do not have active peering
        sessions with some of the NSP's which are receiving NSF
        funding through the old regionals.

        What is your definition of used?

> > >  . Is there any evidence that the NAPs are really backing each other
> > >    up? 
> >     Not sure this is possible.  Perhaps the better question is,
> >     are providers using the NAPs to back each other up.
>
> Let me rephrase. How is the NSF programmatic goal being met of creating
> three NAPs for redundancy purposes to avoid compartmentalization of
> the U.S. R&E portion of the Internet, and how is that being verified?

        That question can't be answered by the NAP operators, since
        they don't monitor traffic. You have to ask the NSP's.

> > >  . do we have some regular examples from *any* site A initiating a
> > >    connection from A to B, A to C, and A to D, where the three are
> > >    verifiably (via traceroute, I guess) would traverse different NAPs
> > >    (and hopefully only one each)?
> >     Yes.
>
> So, where are they? Say, can you give me two examples for such an
> A-B/C/D scenario? One from SDSC, one from NSF. Your answers are a bit
> too flippant to me. Sorry.

        Anywhere to WELL.COM  (via the PB NAP)
        Anywhere to NAP.NET   (via the AADS NAP)
        Anywhere to CERF.NET  (via the Sprint NAP)

        Of course your query presumes symetric routing, which is 
        the exception rather than the rule these days.


> > >  . Are there routing stability reports accessible online from the RA
> > >    (or whoever else feels responsible for this) that graph fluctuations
> > >    at the NAPs, including correlation among them? What are the quality
> > >    metrics for routing stability?
> >     Being defined.
>
> To be publicly discussed, finished, and available by ...?

        Check the RPS schedule w/in IETF.

> > >  . Do all the NAPs provide online statistics?
> >     No.
>
> Why not? Will that change? My understanding is that the NAP service
> providers have contractual obligations for some statistics. I know there
> is disagreement about what stats are appropriate, but is not there a
> contractual requirement for at least some baseline?

        I don't think so.  

> > >  . Are the NAP and RA regular reports to NSF publicly (hopefully via
> > >    the Web) available?
> >     http://info.ra.net/papers  have the annual report/plan papers
>
> Are there any more reporting requirements (quarterly? Monthly?).
> Waiting a year per report in such a changing environment strikes me as
> a bit long.

        There are quarterly reports, which are not yet online.  
        It's a good suggestion and I'll investigate.

> If I wanted a comprehensive snapshot of the current state of the
> NAP-union, where/how would I get it.

        Not enough info.  
        You can dump the in-addr zones to discover who has been assigned
        an IP address
        You can see who has signed an MPLA, if they exist.
        You can check the CERFnet MAP
        You can check out http://info.ra.net/div7/ra/ep.html

        All of these have different viewpoints on the "NAP-union"
        and none have what I think you want.


--bill