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KPNQWest Admins Keep Bankrupt Network Running
sebastianw writes "Some of the network administrators from KPNQWest, although they have been (apparently) ordered to shutdown the network, took over control of the KPNQWest NOC. They are trying to keep the network running and keep customers up, regardless of KPNQWest's insolvency. The company warned on Thursday that they would be forced to shut down KPNQwest's entire European data network on Monday unless its customers paid their bills in full immediately." There's a related story on the Register, talking about the possible effect on UK internet access. If anyone needs to hire some network engineers...
For a day or so, you can keep most large networks running with only one person or so. I work in a NOC that handles access for over 2000 sites, and for nights and holidays (weekends too), we have exactly one person here.
Though when things go bad, we have other people on call-- it can get hectic.
So if all goes well, they could hold out for quite some time (until something important breaks).
I think this is great. Really... Big business could care less about their customers in recent years, but we have these guys generously keeping customsers online...even after they aren't being payed.... This is how customer service SHOULD be done. It is ashame that this is the EXCEPTION and not the true state of an industry in peril.
It would be funny if customers wondered why it was finally shutdown only to find that it was the Slashdot effect that took down the network. We can only wait and see...
bbh
They only need to keep it running for a short time, KPNQwest is trying to find a buyer for the network. Let's hope it finds one, as the european Internet will suffer a huge bandwidth shortage if the network goes down.
As a KPNQwest customer myself, I'd like to say that they've provided a great service over the years. This is absolutely the best ISP ever, no real outages, great customer service (as you might have noticed). It's a real shame it turned out like this.
That's probably why they decided to stay in the NOC they aren't getting paid and the aero chairs are more comfortable than the curb in front of their apartment building.
Plus they can use the Internet access to do job hunting and play really fast QIII. (What you actually thought that they were maintaining the network?)
Actually I think it's great to see such dedication.
"Don't mess with him, he taunts the happy fun ball."
You can't wear a tie in a shop like that!
Just think of what could happen if your tie got caught in the bitstream!
*ZOINK* there goes access to Poland!
Wedding rings? *ZAAM* Oh damn, I think we just transported Roger's ring finger into the shared computer in Ms. Kingston's 3rd Grade class in Manchester, UK.
You gotta be careful when working around heavy data processing machinery, man! They aren't safe or simple, like a table saw or anything!
"Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
These guys are way cooler than my coworkers!
It's the lack of ties around their necks. They have oxygen going to their brains. Makes people friendly and creative!
The speed of time is one second per second.
The actions of the guys in Brussels have been an inspiration for the rest of us in the company (those that are left).
I can pretty much assure that the UK network will keep running, definitely one of the main AS numbers of the UK (5571) has alternate transit so do most in-country networks. If anything it's the Eurorings that are at risks but even they are supported right now from Brussels AND The Hague (both IP NOCs are operational right now).
The actions of the last few days make me proud to be part of KQ, Ebone and Netcom and I really hope that we can all survive this crisis, and if we don't, it won't be from the lack of trying or courage.
just another Netcom/Ebone/KQ techie
Full Time Idiot and Miserable Sod
Nothing is real but the pain
Yes, it is designed to route around damage, but this isn't damage - it's the whole network going down at once.
Take a look at this map and you'll see the problem...
Interestingly, our local KPNQwest is leaving the mothership and this seems to be happening elsewhere, too.
0 20 607.shtml (in Finnish)
On the Finnish company's page they state they're ready to re-route traffic and do what it takes. KPNQwest Norway got bought by Catch Communications and this might be the fate of the others, too. Seems Nokia is already on board as a customer.
http://www.kpnqwest.fi/yritys/uutiset/uutinen20
Anyone got more on this?
J
Since when has Cisco intentionally made bad hardware? I have found that while their prices are high, it is hard to make the hardware on a Cisco box fail short of running mains voltage through an Ethernet line.
That's it. I'm no longer part of Team Sanity.
There are other parts of KPNQwest that do run on general-purpose computers, such as the administrative and billing databases, network management systems, etc. Probably some are running Windows or Linux, and others are probably running Solaris or HPUX.
Bill Stewart
New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks