An entity claiming to be sthaug@nethelp.no (sthaug@nethelp.no) wrote: : : > When an ISP buys a router does it want a worst-case guarantee about the : > router's capabilities? Or will it buy a router which can give better : > performance in the average case (it may drop some packets if the traffic : > pattern changes suddenly)? Assuming both cost the same. : : Worst case guarantee is necessary in many cases. Easy example: : : A router that can handle an STM-1 of regular Internet traffic is worthless : to us if it dies in the face of an STM-1 with minimum sized attack traffic. : Perhaps we can generalize this by pointing out the dearth of SLA's based upon average-case. Mark -- [] Mark 'Doc' Rogaski | Guess what? I got a fever! And the only [] wendigo@pobox.com | prescription ... is more cowbell! [] 1994 Suzuki GS500ER | -- Christopher Walken (as Bruce Dickinson) [] 1975 Yamaha RD250B |