[geeks] layoffs and startups

[geeks at sunhelp.org]

> Koyote once wrote:
> > What if one wanted to start a colo/service hosting/webdesign isp ser=
vice?

> Why didn't I think of that 6 years ago? :^)

Well, the idea isn't new. :). But there is surely room to grow. And new =

services to add almost daily. I've got a few service twists that could b=
e=20
made to sell a few accounts.


> > Using older equipment (ss1000e's, sc2000's, u150's, and I could prob=
ably
> > do an e3k, and ssa's), I actually have enough cpu power and storage =
space
> > to do it, but....

> I had a business plan I was putting together for something "similar."
> The problem is sun4d hardware will no longer be supported in the=20
reasonably
> near future. I'd volunteer my basement as a datacenter, though.

Well, sun4d is fully supported in 8, and while it will be dropped from 9=
,=20
you still can run for a few years on 8 and be stable and secure. I can=20
think of one major isp I know that still runs on 2.5.1, albeit a highly =

customized version.

By the time one really needs to replace a stack of 1000's, parted out=20
420's/440's, and e450's should be available for scrounging and surplus. =

Or you'd be able to afford to cluster netras.

> The other "geek trick" is bandwidth co-ops. Everyone chips in $n/month=
=20
and
> gets decent service, and we keep an eye on one another's systems. It's=
=20
how
> TLG started IIRC. For $1000/mo You can co-locate at PIX and peer for=20
free,
> then run a long-haul T1 or fractional T3 via a PVC to a central point,=
=20
and
> then do free/cheap DSL across alarm circuits to a local point. The PVC=

> costs abour $1000-$5000/mo and each alarm circuit $25/mo. Divide that =

among
> 100 or so people (and you have a 10MBit or 100MBit link at pix) and it=

> works out decently. I haven't crunched the numbers in a while, though.=


Not bad, but I'm really after getting a commercial business that will=20
eventually pay decent wages and provide me with sun-money :)


> > Add to THAT, I'm an economic democrat and want to go in with people,=
 not
> > hire them. (and I know admins, webdesign people, coders who are all =
out
> > of work)

> work for free, "here's some stock, which may or may not be worthless..=
."

Still have to pay for food somehow. And the whole starting money thing. =

Got to get enough to get space and bandwidth and pay the electric bill=20
while getting accounts.

-Christof