From igc.apc.org!notes Sun Nov 29 15:37:20 1992
From: arni@web.apc.org (Arni Mikelsons)
Date: 24 Nov 92 13:23 PST
Subject: - Polling Cost Study
To: Recipients of conference "tech.smallsys" <tech.smallsys@conf.igc.apc.org>
Message-Id: <269400023%web.apc.org@igc.apc.org>


Network Polling Cost Minimization Planning

One of the most expensive long-term costs of efficiently operating
networks is inter-system polling.  Polling refers to the regularly
scheduled modem calls between systems. 

For example, it is often less expensive to move data from one
African country to its neighbour by sending that data via London or
Paris, rather than directly.  However, the question of cost per
minute must be balanced against the following:

     -    line quality and reliability
     -    actual data transfer speed (throughput)
     -    satellite hops between points
     -    currency the bills are paid in
     -    rate of successful connections

During the beta testing of the software a preliminary investigation
of long-distance charges between various African countries and
between these countries and northern centres will be undertaken. 
This data collection exercise must be accompanied by testing of
line quality and throughput of data. This exercise will result in
savings of hundreds of dollars per month during the life of this
project.