What Is a NAP
In NSF terms, a NAP is a high-speed switch or network of switches to which a number of routers can be connected for the purpose of traffic exchange. NAPs must operate at speeds of at least 100 Mbps and must be able to be upgraded as required by demand and usage. The NAP could be as simple as an FDDI switch (100 Mbps) or an ATM switch (usually 45+ Mbps) passing traffic from one provider to another.
The concept of the NAP was built on the FIX and the CIX, which were built around FDDI rings with attached networks operating at speeds of up to 45 Mbps.
The traffic on the NAP was not restricted to that which is in support of research and education. Networks connected to a NAP were permitted to exchange traffic without violating the usage policies of any other networks interconnected via the NAP.
There were four NSF-awarded NAPs:
• PacBell NAP—San Francisco, Calif.
• Ameritech Advanced Data Services (AADS) NAP—Chicago, Ill.
• MFS Datanet (MAE-East) NAP—Washington, D.C.
The NSFNET backbone service was connected to the Sprint NAP on September 13,
1994. It was connected to the PacBell and Ameritech NAPs in mid-October 1994 and early January 1995, respectively. The NSFNET backbone service was connected to the collocated MAE-East FDDI offered by MFS (now MCI Worldcom) on March 22,
1995.
Networks attaching to NAPs had to operate at speeds commensurate with the speed of attached networks (1.5 Mbps or higher) and had to be upgradable as required by demand, usage, and program goals. NSF-awarded NAPs were required to be capable of switching both IP and CLNP (Connectionless Networking Protocol). The requirements to switch CLNP packets and to implement IDRP-based procedures (Inter-Domain Routing Protocol, ISO OSI Exterior Gateway Protocol) could be waived, depending on the overall level of service provided by the NAP.
Continue reading here: Relation to Traffic Routing
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