[ale] CIR

[Eric Schmenk]

Good question and answer!  I was able to find the definition of CIR online
using an on-line encyclopedia (http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/).
Robert's explanation was more relevant, though.  Are there any other on-line
dictionaries or encyclopedias that anyone recommends?

Eric

>From: owner-ale at ale.org [mailto:owner-ale at ale.org]On Behalf Of Robert
>Heaven
>Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 4:15 AM
>To: Darius Olteanu; ale at ale.org
>Subject: RE: [ale] CIR
>
>
>It means that, in times of network congestion (most of the time), they will
>discard your data packets when you exceed the CIR limit. This terminology
>comes from a protocol called Frame Relay which is used inside the ISP
>network to pass data between their nodes (usually because that's the
>cheapest service they can get from the long distance carriers). For
example,
>most commercial web sites are connected to the internet using a 56K leased
>line running Frame Relay with a 32K CIR. What this means is, the web server
>only sees the 56K link and always transmits at that rate. However, when
>congestion occurs within the carriers network, they will begin to discard
>the data packets that exceed the 32Kbps limit forcing the TCP layer to time
>out and retransmit, effectively flow-controlling the web server's
interface.
>Actually, most web servers are connected with the really cheap "Zero-CIR"
>service. You can imagine what that's like during congestion.
>
>-robert
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-ale at ale.org [mailto:owner-ale at ale.org]On Behalf Of Darius
>Olteanu
>Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 2:13 AM
>To: 'ale at ale.org'
>Subject: [ale] CIR
>
>
>Hi!
>
>I'm lloking for an ISP and some of them r talking about CIR(Commitment
>Information Rate). Can u tell me what CIR is?
>
>Thanks!
>
>
>