Our Network

Our network utilizes routing and switching products from Cisco Systems, the leaders in the industry. We utilize redundant Cisco 6509 (SUP720) routers as our core routers/switches, Cisco 3560-E switches in our distribution layer, and Cisco 2950/2960 switches in our aggregation/customer layer. Additional network equipment includes an InterNAP FCP to optimize overall network routing and performance. In addition, 10 Gigabit Ethernet is used at the core of the network to reduce the risks of internal congestion due to DDoS attacks and to maintain optimal flexibility.

Our network is fully meshed, using BGP, and redundant with a wide selection of backbone providers, including Level(3), Savvis, TeliaSonera, nLayer, and supplemented by our nationwide peering network. We took care in choosing our carriers; our research showed them to be some of the fastest and most reliable networks available. Not only are the providers redundant, but their entry paths are redundant as well. Some carriers are brought into the network at Equinix and carried down three floors to our data center over redundant 10 Gigabit Ethernet lines while several pairs of fiber also conect us to provider in the building Meet-Me Room (MMR). In the building there is also fiber from dozens of other companies such as Global Crossing, Abovenet, Qwest, and Sprint and easy access to the Equinix peering fabric as well as the Chicago Internet Exchange.

We have also recently begun full support for IPv6, so all of our customers can now take advantage of the new features and advantages of IPv6. Our IPv6 network uses the same fully redundant core infrastructure as our IPv4 network, but there are several differences between our IPv4 and IPv6 networks due to compatibility/support issues. The IPv6 network is not InterNAP FCP optimized and includes full transit service from nLayer, Hurricane Electric, and Atlantic Metro Communications along with various direct peers.