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To: StockMiser who wrote (10762)	6/7/1999 10:04:00 PM
From: E. Davies	Respond to of 29970

Does ATHM simply act as cable "backbone" of sorts (with special features geared towards broadband and other value added services)? That is the the basic idea. Close enough for us average people. Its not "simple" in implementation though. Eric

To: StockMiser who wrote (10762)	6/7/1999 10:50:00 PM
From: Frank A. Coluccio	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 29970

Thanks, SM. "Does ATHM simply act as cable "backbone" of sorts (with special features geared towards broadband and other value added services)?" That's it in a nutshell, although I wouldn't want to leave you with the impression that it was all that simple. ATHM's architecture in many ways resembles a closed enterprise intranet, with a number of gateways to the public Internet. It's made up of the following basic layers, which I've listed below in a highly generalized way, while omitting many of the discrete processes, such as firewalling/security, accounting, mail POPs, etc. These are listed from the core in to the end user, as follows: - gateway, to and from the greater Internet, - central server functions, - proprietary backbone, linking head ends with the servers and caches, - strategic siting of caching, - edgeware, routers, links between head end and the backbone, - head end assemblies, - hybrid fiber coax outside plant, - the set top box, - cable modem, - PC or appliance with ATHM client software, - you [g] A network operations center, or NOC, is tied into the entire mesh shown above in an ubiquitous fashion through IP connections along the way, performing network surveillance, network health monitoring and problem determination/isolation/and resolution functions. A full and rather well-done description of their overall architecture (perhaps the best I've seen on the web by an 'net play) exists at their web site: home.net Second thought, the above url gives a good narrative now, unlike the graphics I once saw there. I just looked at this site again, and it seems to have changed since the Excite merger. I could only speculate that they are changing some of the description to reflect the addition of Excite's infrastructure and service points. Maybe someone else can point you to the original site, I've lost it, it seems. Regards, Frank Coluccio