Our Internet connection enters into a cable modem provided by our the ISP. Since we have a business class account, it is suppose to be a decent modem. However, our connection is not terribly reliable. Whether the fault lies with the ISP or the modem is known, but the connection is not worth the price paid. If you have a choice between TDS and Charter Communications, try TDS.

From the cable modem, the single feeds into the NetGear router. The router is faily old, but functional. It had wireless capability, which is why I bought it when I did, but that has not functioned in years. No idea why. Both the router and the modem are located in the back room, and both receive a battery-backed power feed. However, this seems to be wishful thinking, since if the UPS kicks in, the cable modem losses it's connection. I'm not sure why, but perhaps it is an issue with grounding.

An Ethernet connection from the router and power from the two UPSes run through the attic to the front room. The Ethernet feed goes into the 1000 Mbit/sec 8-port switch, which inturn feeds the 100 Mbit/sec 18-port. The computer which can support 1000 Mbit connection feed off the high-speed switch. This switch is also battery backed. The remaining systems feed from the 100 Mbit switch. A third switch in the bedroom, a small 8-port 100 Mbit, feed all the computers in that room.

In the past, the power issues of the server array were fairly important. These days, living as a student, I have not concentrated on them as much. I still have two large true sine wave UPS. However, the smaller has a dead battery and I likely will not be replacing that anytime soon. UPS batteries are good for about 3 to 5 years, are expensive and weight a ton (lots of lead).

I use to be able to boast about DrQue.net's up time. However, I moved to Iowa for a 4 month contract and left the setup to itself. My roommates had a nack for screwing up everything that normally worked fine. There was about a 2 week period of downtime before I discovered one of my roommates had disconnected the cable modem from the router. I still do not know what—everyone has their own story of how it happened.

It wasn't just human error, however, that has led to downtime. Our ISP isn't very good. The connection is often interment, although has improved some from when it was first installed. From time to time, the modem just needs a power cycle.