an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

1. introduction
2. what it is
3. what it isn't
4. where it is
5. history

introduction

what it is

An ISP usually offers web hosting space to its customers. The ISP provides the web server, data store and other bits to make a web site go. The customer provides the content. Every ISP offers a similar set of features.

• a secure data center
• a secure network
• lots of disk space
• a fast network
• little or no charge for using the network
• help, from a support web site to a telephone helpdesk
• an SLA (Service Level Agreement)

The SLA contains promises such as:

• 99.99% network availability
• 99.9% web site availability
• 1 hour to fix or replace hardware
• regular backup of content
• restore content within 3 hours of receiving a request

what it isn't

where it is

history