[blam]

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)

[Sgt_Schultze]

This sounds like a dasshole plot to silence conservative critics and the DrudgeReport. ;-)

[TomGuy]

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.

[Mr. Bird]

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.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

Would this qualify as "Loose Lips Sink MIPS"?

[Lessismore]

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).

[Stefan Stackhouse]

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!

[finnman69]

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?

[NoCalEyes]

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..

[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?

[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.