nanog mailing list archives

Re: How big is the Internet?


From: Larry Sheldon <LarrySheldon () cox net>
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 16:18:31 -0500

On 8/15/2013 9:05 AM, Leo Bicknell wrote:

On Aug 14, 2013, at 3:27 PM, Patrick W. Gilmore <patrick () ianai net>
wrote:

Once you define what you mean by "how bit is the Internet", I'll be
happy to spout off about how big it is. :)

Arbitrary definition time: A Internet host is one that can send and
receive packets directly with at least one far end device addressed
out of RIR managed IPv4 or IPv6 space.

That means behind a NAT counts, behind a firewall counts, but a true
private network (two PC's into an L2 switch with no other
connections) does not, even if they use IP protocols.  Note that
devices behind a pure L3 proxy do not count, but the L3 proxy itself
counts.


Isn't that like excluding city streets from the "How many miles of roads?" question--likely to be the bigger fraction of the whole-as-a-traveler-sees-it?

--
Requiescas in pace o email           Two identifying characteristics
                                        of System Administrators:
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio      Infallibility, and the ability to
                                        learn from their mistakes.
                                          (Adapted from Stephen Pinker)


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