The microNERD network was built from the ground up to provide maximum reliability to our clients while also delivering the lowest latency and highest throughput possible. To reach this goal, we focused on the four key components: design, bandwidth providers, hardware, and location.

Design
The microNERD network consists of two separate networks: a public Internet network and a private internal network. This “network within a network” design is comprised of two logically separate and redundant network architectures.

Simplified Network Design

[Click here to view our full detailed network diagram]

The private internal network is not reachable from the public Internet. It also separates client servers into their own private VLAN security purposes, and also allows us to provide many services not found at other providers. Through the use of IPMI 2.0 technology our staff can access your server securely through a remote console as if they were physically standing at the server itself. IPMI 2.0 functions independently of the software on the server so this access is possible even if the server is not responding over the public network interface. This dramatically improves support response times and allows for an unprecedented level of control.

Through the private network, a client's servers can communicate with each other at up to 1000Mbps speeds. They can also connect to internal services offered by microNERD: FTP/Rsync backup, Network Attached Storage, update servers, DNS resolvers, service monitoring, IPMI metrics, and software/OS performance metrics – all without using any of their public bandwidth allowance.

Bandwidth graphs for the private interface are available in our proprietary client portal. There is no charge for any traffic on the private network.

Bandwidth Providers
We took great care in researching and selecting only the highest quality bandwidth providers for our network to ensure we provide low latency and high availability to all locations both domestically and abroad.

Level(3) was recently named as the #1 IP transit provider in both North America and Europe by Renesys Corp, an independent research firm. Level(3) operates one of the world’s largest, newest and most advanced Tier-1 telecommunications networks. The network spans 23,000 intercity route miles and serves the world's 10 largest phone companies, 10 largest Internet service providers, and 6 largest cable providers. They were also ranked in the top 10 globally for Asia-Pacific connectivity.

RCN provides over 1million customers direct Internet access. RCN has over 90 peering arrangements currently in place including (Above.net, Akamai, British Telecom, Equant, Japan Telecom, AT&T, Time Warner, and Verio) and maintains peering at most major peering points (MAE East/West, PAIX, Equinix, etc.) These consist of both public and private arrangements in order to ensure the highest level of Internet performance.

Global Crossing (Coming Winter 2006/2007) operates one of the world's largest and farthest reaching Tier-1 networks. Their extensive peering provides direct links to many of the largest Internet content sites with minimal network hops and best-in-class connectivity. They were recently ranked in the top 10 for global network providers in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Hardware
Our robust and scalable network utilizes only routing and switching products from industry-leaders Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks. We use Juniper M-series routers in our border routing layer and Cisco 3750 series switch stacks in our core switching and aggregation layer. This setup is fully meshed with redundant internal and external fiber connections for maximum reliability. At the client access level we use Cisco 2960 series switches for both our public and private networks. These switches are connected in a bonded, redundant fashion to our core layer to not only enhance reliability but to reduce the risk of congestion and provide maximum throughput.

Location
Our network in downtown Chicago is the ideal location to provide low latency connectivity to all locations around the globe. Chicago is one of the most well connected cities in the world. It serves as one of North America's largest Internet hubs and is home to every major network provider. The central hub location allows for many routes between our network and final destination points which greatly increases network reliability.

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