Technology and Equipment
Hometown Computing uses a variety of sophisticated systems to provide
fast and reliable internet access.
Servers
Hometown Computing maintains an extensive array of servers dedicated to
specific tasks. Servers that handle serving customer web pages and email
are currently Dell Poweredge 4400 machines running Windows 2000, typically with
a gig of RAM and a gigahertz processor. Each server has large RAID arrays
for disk storage and data redunancy and high-performance array controllers to
automatically handle disk failures.
Network functions such as network monitoring, firewalls, and proxy functions
are handled by Sun Netra servers running Solaris 2.8. It has been our
experience that Solaris is the most secure and stable operating system available
and the only OS suitable for firewall and network functions.
Linux servers are normally used for non-mission critical tasks such as
collecting background network performance data.
Every employee has a desktop system running some flavor of Windows.
While some debate whether Windows is the best operating system available, we
believe that it is our responsibility to be proficient on whatever system our
customers choose to use. Since most of our customers use Windows, that is
the primary desktop operating system for the company. Employees also have
access to Linux and Macintosh systems as the need arises.
The Hometown Computing network and servers are monitored 24 hours per day, 7
days a week by a redundant automated system that automatically detects a failure
and notifies a member of the technical team to take corrective action.
Additionally, extensive network information is collected on a continuous basis
and analyzed to identify potential problem areas that can then be avoided before
they can effect customer operations.
Hometown Computing hosts an array of Akamai servers that contain many of the
most popular web sites in the world. By hosting these servers
locally, Hometown Computing can offer faster access to the web's most popular
content.
Hometown Computing also hosts a Cidera Skycache. This satellite cache propagation
system feeds a continuous stream of web data to Hometown Computing at 45,000,000
bits per second. This content is stored locally so that most web pages
requested by customers can be served locally.
Routers and Switches
Hometown Computing uses exclusively Cisco routers for backbone connections. Cisco routers are by
far the most widely used routers on the Internet and in our experience
are also the most reliable. Core backbone routers have multiple
connections to the interent, multiple power supplies, and extensive power backup
facilities.
Remote Access Servers
Hometown Computing operates over 30 Cisco remote access servers to
provide dial-up internet access. Terminating over 1500 access lines, the
Cisco remote access servers provide consistent, fast connections to Hometown
Computing customers.
Backbone
Hometown Computing has multiple high-speed backbone connections to four different Internet providers.
With connections to Sprint, UUnet, Broadwing, and Global Crossing, Hometown Computing customers are
always just a few hops from anywhere on the net.
