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Setting up an ISP with linux



Hi,

I've been involved in plans to establish a new ISP (Internet service 
provider) somewhere in the world. 

I read many Docs on the net related  to choosing the right architecture,
some recommended using smart terminal servers, some are using Unix hosts 
with multiple serial ports for shell and ppp/slip accounts. 
Some don't give shell accounts at all and hardly use any Unix machines 
(just for SMTP/POP/NNTP/HTTP/PAP... and whatever). 

We  are more or less about to choose the architecture these days, and its 
obvious that I'll need Unix servers. They should be strong machines,
able to provide robust and scalable solutions. 
I could just use AIX/Sparc/HP-UX/Alpha machines which are strong and 
usually hold-on even in hard times, but I'm very much tempted to consider 
Linux as the OS for my server platforms.

The support, variety of solutions, and most of all - the fact I'm familiar
with this OS, all suggest I use it.

What worries me most is that I've heard rumors that the networking code
is not stable enough to handle massive activity. 
I'm talking about 24hrsx7days of hundreds of simultaneous users
accessing a proxy server for example, or a mail server with 15000
mail boxes.

Has  any of you ever experienced any flakey network behavior with Linux?
Do you have any experience with continues and massive data transfers using
Linux?

If you have any thing to say, that you think might make me feel more/less
comforable with choosing Linux, please do.


                      Regards

                        Hagai Ariel
                        (Hagi)


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           For updated information about my weekly plans, 
         feel free to finger me - hariel@mathcs2.haifa.ac.il

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