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National Backbone
Tier One Backbone
The NetRail network is a modern, carrier-class Tier One
IP network consisting of OC-12, OC-3, and DS-3 backbone
trunks with OC-48 capacity by the end of 2000. As a fully
redundant and load balanced network, NetRail has more than
20,000 route miles of fiber-optic cable with over 50 Points
Of Presence (POP) locations in the United States.
All-ATM Network
Powering the NetRail network are Juniper M-40 IP backbone
routers and Lucent CBX-500 intelligent ATM switches. The
Juniper M40s run Packet over SONET (POS) with Multi-Protocol
Label Switching (MPLS) and multicasting. The Lucent CBX-500s
run ATM over SONET. Network Service Providers access the
NetRail backbone directly through its core backbone routers.
Public & Private Peering
With more than 200 public and private peering sessions in
place at the DS-3/OC-3 level or above with other Tier One
providers, and many Tier Two and Three providers, NetRail's
flat network architecture provides its partners with one
hop, on-net access to the Internet. This was further enhanced
by the company's decision to use Cabletron SSR-8000s for
colocation aggregation, as well as for packet filtering
and monitoring. The installation of caching servers throughout
the network further facilitates NetRail's plan for distributing
interactive content, such as streaming video across the
backbone.
Network Operations Center
Providing 24x7 monitoring of this impressive network is
NetRail's Network Operations Center.
NetRail's NOC utilizes the latest standards-based network
monitoring and management tools including NetCool and OpenView
to proactively monitor and address all IP, switching, routing,
and DNS issues. Staffed with skilled NOC technicians, NetRail's
NOC provides quick, responsive and knowledgeable support
to their NSP partners.
Operational Support System
As the cornerstone, NetRail selected SAP for the task of
developing a complete, company-wide Operational Support
System (OSS). Unlike that of other providers, NetRail's
OSS is unique, designed from the ground up to be scaleable,
and without the worries of integration with legacy systems.
This gives NetRail a tremendous advantage in servicing its
partners. From provisioning, to monitoring, to billing,
NetRail's OSS provides an automated, streamlined approach
to the way the company does business.
Future Expansion Plans
Having already completing an additional 35-city network
build-out and the construction of a new state-of-the-art
Network Operations Center and testing lab, NetRail is in
the midst of migrating its leased fiber backbone onto its
own dark fiber.
NetRail will continue to migrate its network over to multiple
OC-48 trunks through its dark fiber acquisition and the
deployment Dense-Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) Optical
Networking systems. This project is scheduled for completion
by 2001. NetRail's plans include further expansion of its
network both domestically and internationally.
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230 Peachtree Street,
Suite 1700
Atlanta, GA 30303
888-NETRAIL
(638-7245)
Fax: 404-522-1939
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