Howard, I believe that Datek uses multiple backbone providers. Different servers are on different backbones. While I think that a "rotating" strategy is better than this fixed assignment of servers to backbones, the Datek approach does have the advantage of predictability, if you know how their system works. If one backbone goes down, you can switch to a server on a different one. I beleive there's a list somewhere.
I think you are better-off making sure that your ISP has good, multiple, backbone connections itself. This is the biggest advantage you can have in an ISP.
Personally, I would avoid the big national ISPs that only provide a backbone connection through their own facilities.
A good ISP (depending on area of country) might have, for example, connections to MCI, UUNet, Sprint, direct to one of the NAPs, and to a regional network (for example, for S. California, Pacbell.net, or cerf.net). |
