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Loss Of Major Hub Cities Could Cripple Internet, Study Suggests
Ohio State University ^
| 11-26-2002
Posted on 11/26/2002 7:41:37 AM PST by blam
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I read some time back that there were 13 major server connections/locations worldwide and that one of the thirteen had been moved recently because it was to close to another. (I know very little about this subject)
1
posted on
11/26/2002 7:41:37 AM PST
by
blam
Comment #2 Removed by Moderator
To: blam
This sounds like a dasshole plot to silence conservative critics and the DrudgeReport. ;-)
To: blam
But smaller and medium sized cities that link to the Internet through these major hub cities could be disconnected from the entire network.
Awww, Geee....we git that in northwest Rkansaw ever' month when Mammy Yokum hangs her wash out ta dry. Them thar telephone lines makes good clothes lines but plays havoc on the 'net connections.
4
posted on
11/26/2002 7:48:46 AM PST
by
TomGuy
To: blam
Well, if the next attack chooses to cripple the internet temporarily rather than one of many other options, I'll say a thank you for small favors.
5
posted on
11/26/2002 7:51:55 AM PST
by
Mr. Bird
To: blam
Would this qualify as "Loose Lips Sink MIPS"?
To: TrappedInLiberalHell
Good one! Actually, the internet can be brought down -- anything can be brought down. But the internet was designed by DARPA to survive nuclear war. It's constructed to find paths between points, even if some routes are blocked. You'd have more collisions and slower and more problematic connections, I suppose, but it would take a lot to really bring it down.
I would also say that the coordination on 9-11 was a rare feat. At this point, I'd be very surprised if 5 terrorist cells operating in the US could all work together to take out 5 hubs on the same day. And is 5 hubs enough? How many cells need to sabotage how many hubs? I don't see it happening.
To: blam
I wonder where they got their information. AFAIK, there is no longer any central repository of engineering information about the internet. For example, there have been heated controversies about both the rate at which the Internet is growing and the fraction of Internet traffic carried by UUNET (and the ability of other carriers to service it if UUNET went dark due to Worldcom's bankruptcy).
To: Mr. Bird
Yep. It'd be awful to have to wait longer to have the porn pix download.
To: ClearCase_guy
There are thirteen critical servers I believe. The most recent attack (largest in history) took down eight and another 1 partially. There was little or no visible impact on the internet; however they said if the attack had lasted longer than an hour it would have started to slow down users. I believe some are even located outside of the country and their location is a closely guarded secret.
10
posted on
11/26/2002 8:40:00 AM PST
by
Naspino
To: ClearCase_guy
Good one! Actually, the internet can be brought down -- anything can be brought down. But the internet was designed by DARPA to survive nuclear war. It's constructed to find paths between points, even if some routes are blocked. You'd have more collisions and slower and more problematic connections, I suppose, but it would take a lot to really bring it down.Not to mention the information denisty is somewhat lower nowadays - more bytes must be moved to communicate a loosely written or a fancily designed Web page than just plain text.
To: Naspino
The servers you refer to are the "root" DNS servers....
Their domains are the "top" level domain which is designated
as the "." domain...
12
posted on
11/26/2002 9:07:35 AM PST
by
JSpears
To: blam
Can't be entirely shut down, but a very few well-placed bombs could definitely BOG DOWN the internet for a while. They could also effectively deny service to millions of people for at least several days, maybe even several weeks or months. For example, I can think of one ISP with a very large number of customers that promotes itself by sending out a very large number of free CD-ROMS, and this ISP routes a large percentage of its traffic through a huge server facility just outside of the capital city of a large country. One well-placed bomb of sufficient explosive power could inconvenience a lot of people!
To: blam
If a major city was destroyed, the internet would be the least of our problems. If citizens fled cities, stopped working,anf the economy collapses, why is the internet so important?
To: finnman69
If citizens fled cities, stopped working,anf the economy collapses, why is the internet so important?Communications. Many people nowadays use the Internet to get their knowledge, and many businesses use the Internet for communication. If we're isolated (not a problem with ham radio, then we're likely to be more nervous than if we know what's going on.
To: Stefan Stackhouse
I can think of one ISP with a very large number of customers that promotes itself by sending out a very large number of free CD-ROMS, and this ISP routes a large percentage of its traffic through a huge server facility just outside of the capital city of a large country. One well-placed bomb of sufficient explosive power could inconvenience a lot of peopleIf the above mentioned ISP was "taken out" IMHO only the teeny bopper crowd and their chat rooms would miss them ;-)
16
posted on
11/26/2002 9:29:52 AM PST
by
varon
To: Chemist_Geek
thanks for the ham radio thought. I was thinking the same thing. Good Old CB nation for short range would be a means of communication too.
Red
To: Chemist_Geek
Even HAM radio needs electricity. My main worry is the power plants all going down. Then everyone is screwed.
If a few nukes in cities go off, it might drain the system, cause enough chaos, and so on, to do it.
Who knows? It's not easy to be self sufficient when it comes to electricity.
18
posted on
11/26/2002 10:03:07 AM PST
by
Monty22
To: Chemist_Geek
I understand, but you mised my point. If a major US city was destroyed, the resulting panic and disruption to the economy would be so great that ant disruption to the internet would be minor in comparison.
To: blam
The Internet is fully redundant and without a single point of failure " - -
Also, the techno geeks have thought of this and a thousand other problems/situations..
And besides, the government doesn't run on the "public network" as we know it.. and the DARPA comments are right on..
Not only will it not work, but we would pinpoint the exact locaton of these idiot terriorist who believe this..
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