At 2:24 PM -0400 5/6/96, Scott Brickner wrote:
The network layer isn't the geodesic Bob H likes to talk about. That doesn't happen until the transport layer (one higher). It's a heirarchical star, with a relatively small number of big ISPs acting as the hub, several groups of regional ISPs acting as local arms, and many local ISPs acting as the end-points.
Actually, I once lapsed and *did* say the "h" word about the network layer around here about 6 months ago, and I got slapped severely around the head and sholders, by Gilmore, if memory serves. Knowing enough not to argue with my elders and betters, :-), I immediately recanted and now assert geodecity(!) until proven otherwise. If I remember right, Gilmore said something about a monstorous preponderence of packet traffic still being handled by relatively beensy direct lines... Cheers, Bob Hettinga ----------------- Robert Hettinga (rah@shipwright.com) e$, 44 Farquhar Street, Boston, MA 02131 USA "If they could 'just pass a few more laws', we would all be criminals." --Vinnie Moscaritolo The e$ Home Page: http://thumper.vmeng.com/pub/rah/