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[Debs.]

This story is interesting: for, I thought the nodal nature of the t`interweb made it safe from such extensive 'knock-on' failures. :-/

"437 exchanges around Britain were affected by the incident."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8598371.stm

[tunnie]

shame that water was not put to good use and put out the fire thats affecting their business customers 

[Marks DTM Calib]

This story is interesting: for, I thought the nodal nature of the t`interweb made it safe from such extensive 'knock-on' failures. :-/

"437 exchanges around Britain were affected by the incident."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8598371.stm

Packet basd networks are not nearly as resiliant as you would think....and this is because although at a layer 2 level you can run spanning tree etc to re-route packets, operators try to avoid running it as it effectively means they have little control over thier network. Its this latter fact which is driving newer technology in the form of G.8032 ring protection and MPLS-TP.

Whats more is its a priority and best efforts setup so if a major failure starts to load up other areas of the network then packets will get dropped due to congenstion....and consumer interweb is generaly considered low priority....voice would be higher priority....with premium services even higher.

And to complicate things further......its almost certain that any consumers who were connected to any BRAS in that exchange would certainly loose connection as that is the point of entry to the network for DSL services etc.

[Nickbat]

CF covered this story on his blog:

http://constantlyfurious.blogspot.com/2010/04/sell-your-telecoms-shares.html

[TheBoy]

Hope everyone properly read the story as to what caused the flood

[Marks DTM Calib]

CF covered this story on his blog:

http://constantlyfurious.blogspot.com/2010/04/sell-your-telecoms-shares.html

Lol, that guy has no clue what he is talking about!

Complete power loss is the cause....batteries will keep things going short term for the kit and the prime mover may help but....eventualy it will shut down and the pumps will stop.

Underground telecoms installs are common the world over due to cost of real estate in major populous centres.

Nothing is fail safe, you simply put what ever is reasonable in place to minimise the risk......corner cases will always happen. 

[TheBoy]

CF covered this story on his blog:

http://constantlyfurious.blogspot.com/2010/04/sell-your-telecoms-shares.html

A massively incorrect article at absolutely every level.

[TheBoy]

Additionally, for those that are interested, exchanges are often built on underground rivers or natural springs for a reason.  Many of these exchange buildings are 1940/50/60s, and it ensured a good quality, reliable earth

[Debs.]

Hope everyone properly read the story as to what caused the flood

  Sprinklers to put the fire out...at least somebody was thinking ahead!

....but darn that mains powered sump-pump.

[TheBoy]

Hope everyone properly read the story as to what caused the flood

  Sprinklers to put the fire out...at least somebody was thinking ahead!

....but darn that mains powered sump-pump.

Actually, sprinkler systems aren't common in exchanges for obvious reasons.  BT used to use halon in datacentres, but obviously thats banned now.

[Varche]

Buy shares in BT and prop up their pension scheme.

[STMO999]

Hope everyone properly read the story as to what caused the flood

  Sprinklers to put the fire out...at least somebody was thinking ahead!

....but darn that mains powered sump-pump.

Actually, sprinkler systems aren't common in exchanges for obvious reasons.  BT used to use halon in datacentres, but obviously thats banned now.

Halon gas. Don't want to get caught in a room where that goes off

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Yep, it is not just the OOF that has an outage!

[I_want_an_Omega]

Halon gas. Don't want to get caught in a room where that goes off

In 1988 that very thing happened in a machine room for a company I worked for. The emergency exits opened automatically and everyone just walked out albiet coughing & spluttering.

Its a good job that it didn't happen at the Vauxhall site in Luton. This was also operated by the same company prior to moving GM's processing to a purpose built location in 1990.

The Vauxhall machine room was protected by C02. 16 Tons of it! It became outlawed, but approval from the HSE to keep it was given as plans were in place to move to the new location. The only thing we had to do to get the authority was to provide mini - BA kits and install lighting. This was so that people could see to get to the exits as the power would have been cut when the fire quench system was triggered.