Network Redundancy

Masterpiece Hosting uses intelligent end-user routing software called Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), between Qwest and FGC, who use it as well. BGP can identify which path is the most efficient for each data packet, and then route the packet to its destination on the fastest path. This increases the speed at which web pages sent from our NOC arrive at their destination.

Studies have shown that the second most common reason for downtime is circuit failure on the Tier 1 backbone, the major data highway. To guard against this potential problem, we have two Tier-1 providers. If one has problems, we can route traffic down the other one. Furthermore, because we are OnNet with Frontier GlobalCenter and Qwest, we share their digital distribution architecture, which includes private peering network connections to major Internet carriers such as MCI, Sprint, UUNET, EUNET, AT&T, AOL, Best, Erols, @Home, IBM Advantis and others. These private peering arrangements allow Masterpiece Hosting to exchange packets of data with every major backbone carrier in a one-to-one environment quickly and efficiently.

In addition, FGC has high-speed links to 8 public exchanges including both MAE East and West and several NAPS. Through these many public exchanges, customers have the ability to reach their site wherever they connect to the Internet. Thus we have the best of both worlds: a network that is both efficient and wide reaching.