Brian, There are a million things to consider about setting up an ISP before you even need a book like ISP Essentials. Knowing how to setup redundancy and shape traffic is great, but it's really not at the top of the priority list when talking about setting up something as complex as an ISP that'll serve thousands of customers (you will have thousands right? I mean you're not going to waste a /20?).
Before you can begin estimating your technical costs, you first need to define your target market. Will you have 10 customers or 10,000,000? Are you looking more at a traditional ISP model of providing Internet access (your note says no at the beginning, but you mention modem board at the end, so I'm not clear) or are you looking more at an ASP model where you're only concerned about providing applications? I guess what I'm saying is that there is no cookie cutter approach to building an ISP, ASP, or any other business. Only after you've fully defined your operational parameters can you start filling in the blanks. It's like asking, "How much will it cost me to build an airplane?". There's really no easy answer to the question. Rough cost areas to think about in terms of an ISP are: IP space ASN Registration Physical space (NOC rents/leases) Equipment costs (routers (12000 series or 2600 series?), switches (6509 or 2924?), servers, perf monitors/tools, etc.) Bandwidth costs (T1 or OC48?) Personnel costs Helpdesk costs Licensing / membership costs Insurance costs Marketing costs (even if you're only providing intracompany services, there will be costs here) Legal costs Etc. You may want to head over to NANOG (http://www.nanog.org/resources.html) and look through some of the ISP resources to fill in some of the blanks. I hope this helps. Craig At 09:22 AM 3/4/2002 -0500, you wrote: >OK, well first let me explain my idea for an ISP isn't to sell dial up, >or internet access. I already sell devices that use a dial up. I work >for a company so they worry about the business plan. I already checked >out where to buy a block of IP addresses, the min you can buy direct is >/20 or 4096 public IPs. I know it sounds like a strange idea for you to >start my own ISP. Also I wanted to mention that Cisco press is coming >out with a new book about Starting an ISP "ISP Essentials" in April. I >am trying to find more out about the book. I know it has a lot of stuff >about the features of IOS for ISPs. I guess the book is really what I >need. I would also need my own ASN. The /20 block of registered IPs >would not be routable, I assume because they are not attached to anyones >ASN. So I would have to register my own ASN. And of course I would need >a connection to an ISP backbone. Please don't think I am Ignorant and >think it is as easy as buying a few routers. I am trying to come up with >an estimate for how much it would cost to start an ISP. Like for >instance the block of IPs would be $3000 a year, another cost would be >the modem board, the routers etc. Thanks for your help. > >-----Original Message----- >From: Schneider, Matt [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] >Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2002 5:49 PM >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: RE: ISP Question [7:37006] > >I'm in!!!!!!!! > >-----Original Message----- >From: Craig Columbus >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: 3/3/2002 5:05 PM >Subject: Re: ISP Question [7:37006] > >Ok, I'll bite... > >Don't start buying equipment yet. The technical component of an ISP is >only one very small part of a big picture. If you're seriously thinking > >about starting an ISP, you first need to write a business plan that >delineates your idea, your potential market, your competition, your >management team, your organizational structure, your cashflow analysis, >your initial funding, and your exit strategy. This includes a full and >honest SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) >analysis. Once you've refined your plan, show it to people who know a >lot >more about running a business than you do. Go visit SCORE (look them up >in >the phone book) and be prepared to rewrite everything you've written. >Once >you've got a final product, then you're going to need funding. >Remember, >you need to account for more than the technical equipment. You'll have >to >consider rents, leases, insurance, utilities, payroll, taxes, etc. Once > >you've got the funding, you can bring on qualified management and >engineers >(read experienced in this field) and let them decide on the particular >equipment you'll need. >If this sounds like too much to tackle, then you're not ready to run >your >own business. On the other hand, if you're financially well off (rich) >and >are determined to go forward anyway, I'll be glad to walk you down the >path >for a fee. ;-) > >Good luck, >Craig > >At 02:35 PM 3/1/2002 -0500, you wrote: > >Does anyone have a list of equipment for a company to become and ISP? I > >also want to buy a class of IP addresses and host them myself. Is there > >a link on Cisco to help someone like myself get started. Any help on > >this topic would be appreciated. I really don't know where to start >.... Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=37157&t=37006 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
