Telecom/1996-04-telecom-walnutcreek.iso/reports/internet.via.leased.line

Text File | 1994-06-08 | 33KB | 790 lines

Subject: Leased Line Internet Access

Too large for inclusion in a regular issue of the Digest and submitted
here FYI.

PAT

  From: [e-mail] (Mark Boolootian)
  Subject: Leased-line Internet Access FAQ (provided by tlg.org)
  Date: Wed, 25 May 1994 16:32:02 PDT

The folks at The Little Garden, an Internet service provider in the
Bay Area, have put together the following FAQ on leased-line Internet
service.  Although some is specific to TLG, it is quite good at
explaining a lot of what you need to know.  They also have a modem
FAQ.

You can get more info on TLG via mosaic (http://tlg.org) or via
anonymous ftp to tlg.org.  I don't work for them, nor am I a customer.
I am simply aware of their reputation as a first rate organization,
and a technically excellent bunch.

And now, courtesy of the good folks at The Little Garden:

     The Little Garden - Leased-line Based Internet Service
               Frequently Asked Questions List
            Most recent update: February 22, 1994
              ftp://tlg.org/tlg-leased-line.faq

Q0.  "What's in this FAQ?"

A: This document will explain how to decide whether to get
leased-line-based, 56K, T1 or fractional-T1 Internet service from The
Little Garden, and how to start the process if you decide to do it.

If this FAQ doesn't answer some question that you think it should,
send mail to [e-mail] with full details -- the entire question,
the context, and a sample answer that you would find acceptable.

Table of Contents
Q0.  "What's in this FAQ?"
Q1.  "What kind of service does TLG provide?"
Q2.  "What does this 56K, T1 stuff mean?"
Q3.  "What exactly is a leased line?"
Q4.  "What's so great about 56K, when it's only twice as fast as V.FAST?"
Q5.  "What will a 56K connection to TLG cost me?"
Q6.  "What will a T1 connection to TLG cost me?"
Q7.  "What does a leased-line cost?"
Q8.  "How do I have a leased line installed?"
Q9.  "What is a DSU/CSU?"
Q10. "What is a router, and why do I need one?"
Q11. "What kind of routers does TLG use?"
Q12. "Are there alternatives to buying an expensive router?"
Q13. "Where can I get DSUs, routers, synchronous interfaces, etc?"
Q14. "What equipment is at the TLG end of my connection?"
Q15. "Will I be guarenteed (56K, 1.536Mb, etc) bandwidth?"
Q16. "Who is responsible for my site's security?"
Q17. "How do I sign up?"
Q18. "What happens if a member doesn't pay promptly?"
Q19. "How do I reach The Little Garden?"
Q20. "I live where you don't have service yet.  What can I do?"
Q21. "Who maintains this FAQ, anyway?"

                      ----------------

Q1.  "What kind of service does TLG provide?"

A: TLG offers full-time, high-performance IP (Internet Protocol)
connections using Digital Service lines leased from the local
telephone company or alternative carrier, and IP equipment designed
for leased-line use, at up to T1 speeds.

For a fixed monthly charge, you will be able to send and receive
information in milliseconds with any other computer on the worldwide
Internet -- or with multiple computers simultaneously.  Your computer
will be "on the Internet" and can provide a full range of services to
other Internet users, if you like.

This class of service requires fairly expensive equipment compared to
modem-based connections, but offers vastly superior performance, and
lower cost per bit (KB/sec, latency, etc).

A typical high-performance installation might have your computer(s) at
your site, wired up on an Ethernet.  Also on your Ethernet is a device
called a router, which forwards packets in and out of your Ethernet as
needed.  The router connects to a device called a CSU/DSU; think of
this as a leased-line modem.  The CSU/DSU is plugged into the leased
line from the phone company.  At the TLG office we have the other end
of the leased line, plugged into another CSU/DSU, which is plugged
into a TLG router and thus into the rest of the Internet.

A lower-cost installation might be simply your host computer with a
special bit-synchronous interface card connected directly to the
CSU/DSU, eliminating the router. While this saves you the cost of a
router, it places a heavier I/O load on your host processor, and may
be impractical at speeds over 56,000 b/s.


Q2: "What does this 56K, T1 stuff mean?"

A: Literally, "56K" means 56,000 bits per second, and when spoken
around telephone and WAN (Wide Area Networking) circles, implies a
class of bit-synchronous digital service provided by most telephone
companies, which are a staple for providing IP service. It's sometimes
called "DS0", which stands for "Data Service Zero".  Its original name
is from the 1970's is "Digital Dataphone Service", or DDS.  Pac Bell
calls it ADN, "Advanced Digital Network", just to be different.

"T1" is similar except for speed: 1.536 million bits per second,
operates in a similar manner but with (not surprisingly) higher cost
and much higher performance. T1 is sometims called a "DS1".

(When used for voice purposes, a T1 is split up into 24 DS0's with a
device called a "channel bank". None of this voice-based equipment is
used for IP.)

56K is adequate for an amazing number of simultaneous users and
functions; a well-known local system supported over 7000 users' email
needs with one 56K line. T1 is adequate for most anything short of a
supercomputer center. Most of the Internet backbone is no larger than
T1, though a few heavily used or heavily politicized parts have
deployed T3.

(Nobody knows what happend to T2...)

There is also "fractional T1" service, which sounds like what it is:
fractions of T1 speeds, generally in 64K increments; 128K, 256K, 384K,
etc. Fractional T1 uses essentially full T1 equipment, and therefore
isn't as inexpensive as you might think.


Q3:   "What exactly is a leased line?"

A: A "leased line" is the casual, informal name for a connection to
the Digital Data Network, the digital switching system used by the
telephone companies. It provides a permanent virtual circuit from one
fixed location to another. It is not "dry copper", ie.  plain copper
wires running from your site to TLG; it an interface to the telephone
company's internal bit-synchronous data system.  (It's also possible
to lease normal "voice grade" phone lines from the telco, but we won't
talk about that here.)

Both 56K and T1 are four-wire interfaces; one pair for receive data,
one for transmit, with 48V between them, and a steady clock frequency
on the transmit pair. A device known as a CSU/DSU is required to
convert computer-generated data (via RS-232, V.35, etc) to the telco's
four-wire scheme.


Q4: "What's so great about 56K, when it's only twice as fast as V.FAST
modems?"

A: Bytes-per-second throughput is only half the answer. For relatively
simple "download" situations, flat-out speed transferring bulk data is
the answer. However on the Internet interactivity is the norm, and
client/server software puts great demands on command/response type
activity. The limiting factor is not just bytes/sec, but *latency* --
ie. how much delay is there?

The best modems on the market now have latencies between 100 and 300
milliseconds, with most v.32bis models around 250-280, and v.FAST
around 150. This is the lag you see on an otherwise idling system
while typing in telnet. Latency determines the overall response of the
network, not bulk throughput. For short packets, which are common in
interactive applications like remote logins, email, WWW, Gopher, or
Usenet news, your network's latency determines how responsive the
network feels to you -- how much delay you see whenever you ask for
something.

Latency on a 56K link is about 10 milliseconds (1/100th of a second),
virtually unnoticable, and doesn't vary much with load (though "ping"
times will of course stretch out on a busy system). Modem latencies
vary highly with load, and the amount of instantaneous bi-directional
data, since modems are software-based. Latency on a T1 link is about 3
milliseconds, as measured informally.


Q5.  "What will a 56K connection to TLG cost me?"

A: If only there was a simple answer ... the actual cost depends on a
number of factors; the two largest variables are distance from your
site to ours (monthly leased line costs) and your equipment and
performance needs.

We assume that you already have or will obtain yourself the necessary
computer equipment for your needs. This is outside the scope of what
TLG can provide, though we may be able to help you with specifics,
such as which drivers or hardware you might need. None of this cost is
reflected in any of the estimates below.

TLG has one-time and recurring monthly costs, and there are certain
items you will definitely need. THESE PRICES ARE ESTIMATES!

56K:                    One-time        Recurring monthly

TLG installation:       $1500
TLG 56K rate:                            $325

DSU, pair:               $500
Router, or interface:    $500 - $2500
Pacific Bell ADN line:  $1300            $110 - ?


ESTIMATE:               $3800 - $6300    $435 - ?

Most sites need a router to handle traffic and IP routing to various
hosts at the members site; if your needs are modest and you are a
datacomm wizard/driver hacker, or know one, you may be able to use a
special interface card instead.

Leased line costs vary widely, and prices should be obtained from
Pacific Bell or other telephone company. The above numbers are merely
wild estimates.


Q6.  "What will a T1 connection to TLG cost me?"

A: Like 56K, T1 connection costs depend on the distance from your site
to ours (monthly leased line costs) and your equipment and performance
needs. Because of the speeds involved and relatively low volume of
production on T1-speed IP equipment, things tend to be a bit pricey.

We assume that you already have or will obtain yourself the necessary
computer equipment for your needs. This is outside the scope of what
TLG can provide, though we may be able to help you with specifics,
such as which drivers or hardware you might need. None of this cost is
reflected in any of the estimates below.

TLG has one-time and recurring monthly costs, and there are certain
items you will definitely need. THESE PRICES ARE ESTIMATES!

T1:                     One-time        Recurring monthly

TLG installation:       $1600
TLG T1 rate:                             $800

DSU, pair:              $2400
Router, or interface:    $500 - $5000
Pacific Bell ADN line:  $1300            $220 - ?


ESTIMATE:               $5800 - $8300   $1020 - ?

Especially at T1 speeds, and probable loads, most sites need a router
to handle traffic and IP routing to various hosts at the members site;
if your needs are very modest you may be able to use a special
interface card instead.

Leased line costs vary widely, and prices should be obtained from
Pacific Bell or other telephone company. The above numbers are merely
wild estimates.


Q7. "What does a leased-line cost?"

A: You should get prices directly from the telephone company or other
carrier. TLG does not install lines for you. In the SF Bay Area, your
choices are somewhat limited.  Pacific Bell serves the entire Bay
Area. Metropolitan Fiber Systems (415-362-3300) can provide service
within SF and some areas around the Bay.

Leased lines follow one reasonbly simple model for pricing. Each end
is broken out separately (but you obviously have to get two ends :-).

THESE PRICES ARE APPROXIMATE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES ONLY!
Please obtain current pricing from Pacific Bell or other telephone
company!

Example 10 mile 56K              One-time       Recurring monthly
  Installation per end:          $622
  Termination per end:                           $51
  Mileage:                                        $6 per mile
TOTAL:                          $1244           $162

Example 10 mile T1               One-time       Recurring monthly
  Installation per end:          $634
  Termination per end:                          $123
  Mileage:                                       $40 per mile
TOTAL:                          $1268           $646


NOTE: In California, Federal Communications Commission tariff number
FCC-128 states a lower monthly rate (in the example above) and waives
the one-time installation fee for one end, and the monthly recurring
Termination fee, for one end.


Q8. "How do I have a leased line installed?"

A: Though there may be an alternative telphone company available in
your area, potentially with lower prices than Pacific Bell's, it's a
good idea to contact Pacific Bell anyway, if for no other reason that
to be able to say 'Pacific Bell will charge me $X per month, can you
beat that?'.

PacBell by law must provide one standardized price to all customers;
it's part of their Common Carrier status. All the other phone
companies are quite aware of what PacBell's prices are.

When pricing or ordering lines, you need to know the location code for
each end. This is simple: the area code and exchange (first three
digits of phone number) for any phone at the physical site.  For
example, at our main POP at 444 Market in San Francisco, 415-788. Our
Mtn. View POP, 415-903.

 * Give the location code for both ends of the circuit.

 * Tell them you want an "ADN 56K" or "ADN T1" line.

 * For T1, specify "B8ZS".  Originally, T1 circuits were designed
without enough zero-to-one or one-to-zero transitions to keep the
"clocks" (bit-by-bit timing) throughout the circuit synchronized.  The
phone company solved this by stealing the bottom bit of 8-bit DS0
channels 6 and 12 (out of 24) contained within the T1 channel.  (This
is why you get 56,000 rather than 64,000 bits/sec on a DS0 channel.)
Later, they overloaded this stolen bit for even more use, when they
realized that more things had been forgotten in the original design.
For data use, "B8ZS" means that you want all 8 bits of all the
channels, and your CSU/DSU will handle "zero stuffing" which will keep
the clocks in sync.  Modern telco equipment can cope with this, but
they only set it up this way if you ask.


Q9. "What is a DSU/CSU?"

A: DSU stands for "Digital Service Unit", CSU for "Customer Service
Unit".  Originally they were two boxes -- one owned by the phone
company, the other by the customer.  Once the government forced the
phone company to let you connect your own equipment directly to their
lines, the boxes were merged into one for convenience.  Sometimes a
CSU/DSU is called simply a "DSU".

No matter, it's basically a modem for leased lines. It converts
reasonably standard computer electrical protocols such as RS-232 or
V.35 to the four-wire funny business the telco's use. It also
provides, and generates, status about the line itself and the state of
the DSU and other equipmnet on the "far" end of the leased line.  Most
are able to perform tests of the line and remote DSU when commanded to
do so.

Like modems, you need one at each end of a leased line, and again like
modems, it's best to have a matched pair; some functions like remote-tests
are incompatible between brands.

Used DSU's have been seen in surplus stores for as low $25. You have to
hunt for them. No advice is possible.


Q10. "What is a router, and why do I need one?"

A: A router is a box that generally does two useful things for you: it
handles the I/O load of reading and writing bits to the leased line,
converting them to Ethernet packets for your computer(s) to deal with.
It also takes care of deciding which packets need to go over your
leased line and which ones should just be sent locally on your
Ethernet.

Most routers do other useful things, like handle errors, keep
statistics via SNMP, provide dial-in maintenance ports, handle
multiple lines (leased, dialin or copper).

Most interface to your host computer via Ethernet, and will handle IP
traffic to and from any number of host computers. Routers are able to
handle nearly any network configuration, using static routing (set up
in advance by humans).  It's usually more convenient to have them run
a routing "protocol" such as RIP, to automatically "discover" the
proper routing by communicating with other routers on the leased lines
and Ethernets.

There are synchronous interface cards available for some computers
that handle the I/O portion of the router function.  Most Unix
machines can handle the routing themselves (though it takes CPU time
away from other things you might want to do).  By going this "route",
you may be able to defer, or avoid entirely, the need for an expensive
router.  We know of only one unix flavor that directly supports one of
these cards; basically you're on your own.


Q11: "What kind of routers does TLG use?"

A: At the moment at least, exclusively Livingston Portmasters;
IRX-114's for 56K and T1, and Portmaster 2's for asynchronous. I guess
this amounts to an endorsement. They certainly are worth it.  They are
reasonably inexpensive, are solidly reliable, and have all the correct
features.

TLG also has a few 3COM XXX routers left over from before Livingston
built good high-speed routers.  3COM's support for these is minimal
and expensive (they were acquired when 3COM merged with Bridge
Communications), and we are retiring them as they break down.


Q12. "Are there alternatives to buying an expensive router?"

A: In some limited cases, yes. If you just want low latency for a
small number of hosts and users, you may be able to use a synchronous
interface to connect directly to the DSU or CSU/DSU and save the cost
of the router.

This savings isn't without penalty however. The synchronous cards
aren't cheap, you need softare support in your operating system, and
routing the packets and pushing the bits in and out will take CPU time
away from whatever else your system is supposed to be doing.  For
small sites and relatively modest needs they work just fine.

A combination we know to work is BSDI's 386/BSD 1.0 unix for 386/486
computers, and an SDL Communications Inc N1 card. 386/BSD directly
supports the N1 card, support from both manufacturers is excellent,
and it seems quite reliable.

Found on the net:

    "I'm using a router assembled from an old 286 pc, a WD 8003e
    ethernet (equiv) and a Sync board from Niwot Networks
    (303-444-7765).  The software is PCRoute 2.24 and Niwot's packet
    driver.  I have 3 pair of these routers up and they run
    flawlessly.  Two pair are running point-to-point over a few
    miles of copper and one is a Amertech DS0 circuit.  All are
    running 56kb.  Can't beat the price.

    BTW: the Niwot board is spec'd for T1."

Reliability, load and number of hosts unknown. No warrenty, expressed
or implied ...


Q13. "Where can I get DSUs, routers, synchronous interfaces, etc?"

This is by NO MEANS a complete list. It only includes people we have
personally done business with. Prices if listed are APPROXIMATE,
please obtain the correct prices from the sources indicated.

ROUTERS, 56K or T1: One to four port plus Ethernet, up to two T1 ports
and two 56K, or four 56K, etc.

        Livingston Enterprises
        [phone], Douglas Meltzer
        Fax [phone]
        email [e-mail]

ROUTERS, 56K or T1: They have many models, of which an affiliate
(RAINnet) uses the one-port 56K model.

        Morning Star Technologies Inc.
        [phone] (voice)
        [phone] (voice)
        [phone] (FAX)
        [e-mail] (sales e-mail)
        [e-mail] (technical e-mail)

        ftp.MorningStar.Com (anonymous FTP)
        http://www.MorningStar.Com (WWW)

ROUTERS, 56K: Low cost one-port router.

        NAT  408-370-4228

56K DSUs: BAT Electronic's DSUs are ugly little black boxes that seem
to be half the price of better-known brands and work just great. Big
modern VLSI cookie inside, nearly no analog glue. No money wasted on
fancy packaging!  $249 each.

        North Bay Network, Inc,
        John Harkin
        [phone]
        email: [e-mail] (John Harkin)

T1 DSU: A reasonably inexpensive ($1200 each) T1 DSU is Tylink brand,
model ONS-150. See CAPELLA NETWORKING for a distributor.

SYNCHRONOUS INTERFACE CARD for ISA bus computers: Works great, but be
warned it needs 128K of upper memory, the fault of the pclone computer
design not SDL.  Requires driver. Supported by BSDI's 386/BSD unix
operating system. $495.

        SDL Communications Inc
        [phone]

386/BSD unix: Available in binary only ($500) or source and binary
($1000) on CD-ROM. Supports most recent plcone computer hardware
packages.

        Berkeley Software Design, Inc.
        [phone]BSD (voice)
        [phone] (voice)
        [phone] (fax)
        [e-mail]

ALL DATACOMM EQUIPMENT: Capella Networking: A distributor of data
comm. equipment, including Livingston, Tylink, etc. Lots of expertise,
can help you pick components, and reasonable prices.

        Capella Networking
        Mike Lee, Doug Stolz
        [phone]
        [phone]
        [e-mail]


Q14. "What equipment is at the TLG end of my connection?"

A: TLG uses predominantly Livingston Portmaster IRX-114 routers.  We
prefer V.35 interfaces, luckily the most commonly used interfaces on
DSU/CSUs.  Generally we'll take care of inside wiring.

The TLG install fee covers all equipment and labor at the TLG end of
things, except DSUs -- because you want a matched pair, we make each
member get their own.


Q15. "Will I be guarenteed (56K, 1.536Mb, etc) bandwidth?"

ANSWER NUMBER ONE:

A: No.  Our resident Chief Of All Curmudgeons, Randy Bush sez: "Hell,
we don't guarantee *anything*, but we give you as near to 56K/T1 as
anybody else. Yes, we oversell bandwidth, everybody does.  But we do
it less than most.  No, we do not think it will affect you adversely.
If it does, we will fix it.  The real tale of the physics [follows]."

Line speed is the major determining factor of network latency, and
line speed is not download-type bandwidth or speed.  What higher speed
connections get you is shorter latencies -- and low latency is what
makes for good network performance.

Latency on a 56K link will be about 10 milliseconds, virtually
unnoticable to humans, and doesn't vary with load (though "ping" times
will of course stretch out on a busy system).  Latency on a T1 link is
about 3 milliseconds, measured informally.

There are thousands of networks between TLG and the site you might
want to connect to, and we have no control or influence of them.


ANSWER NUMBER TWO:

A:  Nope.

Your leased line's speed will guarantee that there is no "bottleneck"
between you and your local TLG site.  But the Internet is a large
shared resource, and it can't carry everyone's traffic at top speed
simultaneously.  Instead, each person's traffic fits into the gaps in
everyone else's traffic.  At "rush hour", when every "on ramp" is full
of traffic coming in, there'll be more competition for the total
bandwidth available, and things will get slower.  We and all the
network providers try to stay ahead of the demand, so that the
slowdown is never excessive.  You'll particularly notice slower
operation when parts of the Internet are temporarily broken, and
traffic is flowing through "backup" facilities.

You could lease a T1 line directly between your location and each
other possible location you wanted to talk to.  It would be very
expensive, but it would guarantee that you could move 1.544 megabits
to those locations every second.  But your computer and the computer
at the other end might not be ready or able to handle all that data
continuously, and there are many times when your computer won't be
transmitting or receiving at all.  By sharing facilities, we bring the
cost down tremendously, and most of the time the total traffic is
still well within the bandwidth (capacity) of the network.

At each router in the Internet, there is the potential for there to be
more traffic coming into the router than can go out of it.  For
example, your Ethernet can move 10,000,000 bits/second (a megabyte/second,
if your hardware and software is properly tuned), but your router can
only push that data out over the leased line at 56,000 or 1,500,000
bits/second.  When the data reaches the router at the TLG end of your
leased line, there will be other leased lines also sending in data.
For example, if you have a T1 connection and so does another company,
a total of 3,000,000 bits/second could come in simultaneously -- but
probably only 1,500,000 can go out (on another T1 line in the TLG
network).  Routers are designed designed to "fairly" share the
available bandwidth among all comers when there are conflicts, and
your computer's TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) will automatically
slow down the rate at which it sends data if it detects this kind of
congestion.

When the network is relatively idle, your leased line's speed is the
major determining factor of network latency and capacity.  What higher
speed connections get you is shorter latencies -- and low latency is
what makes for good network performance.  When doing large file
transfers, the data will get to TLG's router quickly, we'll pump it
down the leased line to you quickly.

When the network is more loaded, having a higher speed leased line
lets you "offer" more traffic to the network; your "fair share" of the
bandwidth is larger.  Also, a high speed line's low latency lets your
computer respond more quickly to acknowledge each packet that comes
in.  This quick response causes the next packet of data to be sent
sooner, speeding up the overall transfer.  Also, because each packet
takes a shorter amount of time on your leased line, small packets for
interactive traffic find more places per second where they can slide
in between large packets full of file transfers.  (At 56,000 bits/sec,
or 7,000 bytes/sec, you can only send seven 1-kilobyte packets per
second, so if a 1K packet is being transmitted when you hit RETURN,
your RETURN packet will have to wait for up to a seventh of a second
before it even gets a chance to be sent.)

Nearly all of the current Internet is connected with "only" T1, and in
some cases those lines are *very* busy.  No Internet service provider
promises that you will be able to send some particular number of bytes
in a particular number of seconds.  Ask a few, if you don't believe
us.


Q16: "Who is responsible for my site's security? A private Internet
link is a nice idea, but I don't have all the lore about all the
historical security holes in (FavoriteOS) at hand, and many of them
are deliberately kept quiet.  I've gone 3.5 years without a catastrophe
so far; and want to continue that way."

A: No. TLG isn't an OS consulting firm. You're entirely responsible
for your own security.  While we just deliver the bits to your door,
we can probably point you to people who can provide you with security
help, sometimes even for free. Ultimately though, it is you that
remains responsible for your systems security.


Q17.  "How do I sign up?"

A: First, let's make sure.  You read all this about The Little Garden,
found out what we do, and it's what you want.  The price is right.
You have the hardware and software necessary to maintain your end of
the connection.  You understand what your responsibilities are, and
what TLG's are.  You understand the payment schedule.

 * Get the TLG Order Form via email (send email to [e-mail])
   or anonymous FTP.  Fill it out and email it to [e-mail].
   Or print it out and postal-mail it to us at our contact address
   below.

 * When we think the order is ready to go, we'll send you another, much
   smaller document, which provides you with some basic info (which
   POP you'll be connecting to, etc), and when you return it, tells
   us what we need to complete your order.

 * You start Pacific Bell (or another provider) installing your lines.

 * We invoice you for the install fee, payable immediately.

 * You deliver the install fee and one of your DSUs to us,
   including power supply and manual.

 * After the line is in, we wire it to our equipment room, and
   install the DSU at the TLG POP.  We will test the installation.

 * At this point, you are responsible for making good your end of
   the link, and your host software.  TLG people will gladly help
   out with all phases, though ultimately it's your responsibility.

 * You're up and running when we can repeatably pass IP packets
   between your system and our routers.  You may not have yet
   completed higher-level services like:  DNS, domain-name
   registration, external network publishing (NACRs and the like);
   all of your everyday services (Telnet, FTP, etc).  It does
   include PING.

   AT THIS TIME, your billing for monthly TLG services will begin.
   TLG billing starts at the first of the month, and is payable
   upon receipt.  Unless otherwise arranged, we bill you ahead for
   one months service.  If you want other arrangements, please let
   us know AHEAD OF TIME.

   Your first month is treated specially.  First, the turn-on/billing
   date is moved forward to the nearest 1/4th month; ie. if you
   were connected on the 3rd of the month, we'd round that up to
   the 7th, and bill you for 3/4ths of a month.  From them on,
   billing is done on the first of the month.

 * You get the higher level services running, as desired.  We can
   help if you run into trouble.

Please refer to file "how-to-DNS" on how to get your name service
going, and register your domain with the NIC. Also, the book "DNS and
Bind" from O'Reilly & Asso. (800-338-6887) can help you out.


Q18.  "What happens if a member doesn't pay promptly?"

A: This is the Bad Stuff no one wants to think about, most of all TLG.
We haven't had to do this yet, lucky us.  We will gladly make specific
arrangements IN ADVANCE that override these things, such as payment
schedule changes, etc.

INSTALL FEES ARE DUE IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT OF THE BILL -- we
reserve the right to stall or stop installation if the install bill is
not paid promptly.  INSTALL FEES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE.  Installation
fees cover our labor and expenses, and the actual cost of providing
your connection.

WE WILL KEEP YOUR EQUIPMENT IN CASE OF NON-PAYMENT.

SERVICE MAY BE CUT OFF after a bill becomes 30 days past due.  It
is the member's responsibility to keep track of this!


Q19.  "How do I reach The Little Garden?"

        The Little Garden
        PO Box 410923
        San Francisco CA 94141-0923
        [phone]

        Email to...     Gets you...
      [e-mail]      A brochure and basic info.
   [e-mail]      Frequently Asked Questions.
[e-mail]      New service Order Form/Questionnaire.
     [e-mail]      Actual humans.

The same information is also available by:

        Anonymous FTP           tlg.org
        World Wide Web          http://tlg.org/


Q20. I live where you don't have service yet.  What can I do?"

A: Try talking to one of our affiliated networks.  We all work
together to provide low-cost Internet service over a broader
geographical range.  If you don't live in any of these areas, then
find a local low-cost provider, or consider starting your own!

Santa Cruz --

        Santa Cruz Community Internet (scruz-net)
        903 Pacific Ave. #203-A
        Santa Cruz, CA 95060
        [phone]
        [e-mail]

        Santa Cruz Community Internet serves the
        entirety of Santa Cruz County, CA.

        scruz-net offers the following TCP/IP services:
          o medium speed 56kb and 64kb
          o leased line and frame relay
          o ISDN and centrex IS service at 64kb or 128kb
          o 14.4kb leased line or 14.4kb centrex
          o 14.4kb dial-up SLIP and PPP

        scruz-net offers the following application services:
          o news and mail forwarding
          o DNS registration and nameservice
          o FTP archive and gopher server


Marin, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties --
        North Bay Network
        20 Minor Court
        San Rafael, CA 94903
        [phone]
        Email:  [e-mail]


Oregon, southern Washington state --
        RAINet
        9501 SW Westhaven
        Portland, OR  97225
        [phone]
        [e-mail]

        RAINet offers the following TCP/IP services:
          o medium speed 56kb and 64kb
          o leased line and frame relay
          o 14.4kb leased line
          o 14.4kb dial-up SLIP and PPP

        RAINet offers the following application services:
          o news and mail forwarding
          o DNS registration and nameservice
          o UNIX shell accounts
          o POP mail accounts and POP serial dialup
          o dialup and PPP/SLIP gopher clients

        When you are in RAINet's geographic area (Oregon and Southern
        Washington), RAINet offers free access to customers of
        other RGnet consortium networks, e.g.  The Little Garden.


Q21. "Who maintains this FAQ, anyway?

A:   To get the latest version, ftp to tlg.org and get the file
/pub/tlg-leased-line.faq.

Or use WWW with URL http://tlg.org/tlg-leased-line.faq.


Send corrections and questions to [e-mail].