Some nits. In message <v01520d0bad8c60bc8902@[168.143.1.215]>, Howard C. Berkowitz writes:
Here are my first thoughts on a tiered model, with attributes of each tier.
Top level (Tier 1): -- provide transit as their principal business
principal IP business (some people provide voice services or do other things).
-- have at least some default-free routers
Span at least one continent with default-free routers. Are able to provide customers with default free routing as an option.
-- have connectivity at >1 geographically separated major exchange
Yes. And span these with default free routers (ie: taking full routing at two routers and defaulting in the middle doesn't count).
-- need special measures to deal with BGP scaling issues inside their AS (or multiple AS) such as confederations, clusters, etc.
or multiple AS to deal with scaling... but if a really hefty router comes along or we ever are able inject AS paths into the IGP, this no longer applies. How about connection speed? At least a DS3 backbone? A redundant backbone (no single circuit failure can partition the provider)? Can we squeeze in 1.5: -- provide transit as their principal business -- have at least some default-free routers -- have connectivity at >1 geographically separated major exchange -- do not have a default free backbone -- maybe cannot provide full routing to all but a few customers -- maybe not redundant DS3s Nobody in particular in mind here.
2nd Level -- provide transit within a geographic area -- may have default-free routers -- limit operations to a geographic area; may connect to multiple exchanges within that area
Connection speed? Is Nearnet (mostly New England) circa 1994 equivalent to some small provider with two T1s and a bunch of routers in a limited geographic region? Again, having an providing full routing is a big factor too.
3rd Level -- do not provide commercial transit services, although they may incidentally provide transit among their customers -- do not do BGP peering with any "downstream" organizations. Their user base is part of their AS. -- May peer with multiple upstream providers
4th Level -- do not run BGP -- Internet access through provider only