hi ok, summary as warranted: ================== who responded: ================== folks from following spaces answered (some to list so you saw) (forgot to ask for permission to use names so won't, but you who answered know who you are since you've been karma++'ed today) ic.gc.ca canarie.ca gxn.net (gx networks) cisco bluestar.net linx.net surfnet.nl shrubbery.net ================== upshot: ================== mostly all atm for now, though several folks pondering/aiming for gigE for connectivity to NAP's like CA*Net3. (usable (high density) gigether switches only recently available) 2.5 notable exceptions: LINX and AMS-IX, and CaNET3.soon ================== per instance details: ================== LINX does: http://www.linx.net/ http://www.linx.net/tickets/1998_migrate.html . 2 Packet Engines PowerRail 5200s 2 Extreme Summit 48s, linked w gigE . 2 physical locs in Docklands about 5km apart dark fibre between, gigE happily over it. . 2 redundant conns from two telcos to avoid backhoe risk. . interswitch traffic is >100Mbps on some links. no access >100Mbps to ISPs. no members even on at gigE yet, biggest LINX members only push ~40M/sec i/o each, --> no problem so far Amsterdam IX (AMS-IX) (since sept98) http://www.ams-ix.net/ . ISPs connect on 10BaseT and 100BaseTX . may add Fast EtherChannel and GigE. CANARIE . working w Nortel, Ameritech, UoIllinois and iCAIR to . build an "optical Internet exchange" in Chicago. . initally for HPC (research) network (MREN, CA*net 3, SuperNet) . peering connections at 2.5 Gbps (OC-48) using any desired protocol: e.g., GigE, ATM, SONET, etc Canarie has fine paper on this stuff, fwiw (tnx billStA) http://www.canet3.net/Optical/architectural.htm Steve also made exclnt point that the ATM vs 'promiscuous' medium have other inherent distinction of potential interest to ISPs with policy/privacy/security concerns hope this worth the aal5 headers it cost... tnx again for data k