Loss Of Major Hub Cities Could Cripple Internet, Study Suggests

Ohio State University ^ | 11-26-2002

[Mr. K]

hey! i am going to route my ineterent connection through my ham radio!

[hattend]

I thought the whole purpose DARPA designed the internet was to make communication survivable in an all out nuke strike by the Soviets. That's why there is no real "hub".

Or did I mis-read something a long time ago?

[Billthedrill]

Well, a hub-and-spoke model is going to be pretty natural as long as distance from the nearest switch is an issue - cities are (duh!) where the people are. Satellites will move the vulnerabilities out a bit but won't actually increase redundancy in and of themselves - connectivity will flow to the lowest cost-per-byte regardless. God bless the free market.

There's no perfect world here. The best we can do is to ensure that the system is as robust as cost permits, just as we have with other basic services such as water and electicity. (Note to self - yes, you did just refer to the Internet as a basic service. That "day in the future" has arrived.)

There are, of course, steps to be taken to protect against failures in any basic service - everyone should have emergency water stored, flashlights, fresh batteries, and enough porn on the hard drive to take him through unplanned outages. Anyhow, as long as there's a clear route between Fresno and my desk who cares about the rest?

[Chemist_Geek]

Even HAM radio needs electricity. My main worry is the power plants all going down. Then everyone is screwed.

Who knows? It's not easy to be self sufficient when it comes to electricity.

Not easy, but possible. Uni-Solar makes solar panels, and there is a wealth of information at Home Power Magazine. There's enough electricity to keep the refrigerator working, the coffee maker going, and the radios running.

[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.

Oh, I agree, a massive terrorist attack could be likened to a Kobe earthquake - massive casualties, no warning, etc., but localized. In addition to that, though, we have the psychological impact on the rest of the nation.

That is what would be (partially) fought by information. The temporary loss of the Internet would create a black hole, within which all sorts of misinformation and rumors would sap Americans' gumption. Long-term, though, a major terrorist attack would have psychological implications so severe (loss of feeling secure, long-term plans being abandoned, etc.) that whether the Internet were up or down would not matter.

[null and void]

If a major city was destroyed, the internet would be the least of our problems. If citizens fled cities, stopped working, and the economy collapses, why is the internet so important?

FR, dude, FR!

[blam]

"Who knows? It's not easy to be self sufficient when it comes to electricity."

A lot of people on the Gulf Coast have private generators and gasoline supplies for hurricanes. I have two and 110 gallons of gasoline to support them.

[Monty22]

How long does the gasoline stay good in a tank? Serious question.. Is it under 5 years?

[blam]

"How long does the gasoline stay good in a tank? Serious question.. Is it under 5 years?"

I change it out yearly.

[Conservative4Ever]

Are you funnin' me?

Red

[isom35]

no internet would mean no more quake1 ctf on trinicom :(
but the bright side would be no more chat-rooms. now that would rule.

[RightWhale]

You can connect direct to satellite if you have the right gear.

[blam]

"You can connect direct to satellite if you have the right gear."

Then when the terrorists strike, I'll be the only one on the internet, huh?

[Toskrin]

Reminds me of the Ted Turner quote:

"Nuclear war would really set back cable."

Unfortunately, that's the most profound statement the man's ever said.

[RightWhale]

Yes, you would be on the Internet and have the whole bandwidth to yourself. You could even post to FR without fear of contradiction, if FR were also there.

[TechJunkYard]

hey! i am going to route my ineterent connection through my ham radio!

It's been done. www.irlp.net