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Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!news.mira.net.au!news.vbc.net!garlic.com!news.scruz.net!kithrup.com!news.Stanford.EDU!nntp-hub2.barrnet.net!hookup!uwm.edu!newsfeed.internetmci.com!in1.uu.net!news2.new-york.net!le From: le@put.com (Louis Epstein) Subject: Re: Starting up an ISP using FreeBSD X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.2 PL2] X-Nntp-Posting-User: le Organization: Putnam Internet Services Message-ID: <DquF3H.Fv8@news2.new-york.net> References: <4m5ic0$iu6@apocalypse.dmi.stevens-tech.edu> <4m840h$731@news.cais.com> X-Trace: 831149547/17956 X-Nntp-Posting-Host: main.put.com Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 18:52:29 GMT Lines: 28 John Caywood (caywood@acic.com) wrote: : In article <4m5ic0$iu6@apocalypse.dmi.stevens-tech.edu>, : pchhibbe@attila.stevens-tech.edu (Parag Chhibber) writes: : > : >This one machine would be effectively a csu/dsu, router, dns server, smtp : >server, nntp server, www server, and other things. : > : >My question is, is it prudent to do the above on one system (just say I'm : >running a Pentium 166 MHz with 64 MB 60 ns EDO RAM. I will have two 2.5 GB : >EIDE Seagate Drives, four 4.0 GB Seagate Barracuda drives, and two Toshiba 6X : >SCSI CD-ROM drives). : > : >The cost for the above system is about $5k. Would my system be quicker if I : >split the function into 2 computers: : You bet it would be more prudent! In fact, with increasing ISP competition : profit margins are falling rapidly, so it would be even more prudent to : start with a used 486/66 instead of a pentium/166. Yes, 2 or more machines : will be faster, but can you afford them *yet*? Get more and faster : machines when you have enough customers to justify the expense. I started up my own ISP with two 486DX4-120s and a terminal server, with a router and dsu/csu leased to me as part of my high-speed line.To make the main server the nntp server would be simply impossible unless running quite a limited feed...if you start with too little,will you be able to get the customers you need to expand when in competition with those who already have more resources?