Data mesurements show that usage of MAE-EAST is continuouse around the clock. Additionally, weekends are noticably never below 20Mb/sec.
MAE-WEST is operated by MFS and NASA AMES. There are two connections at MFS and seven on-order.
There is a DS3 bridge between AMES and MFS and operational. MCI, ESNET, NSI is connected to the FDDI. Sprint needs a FDDI card as does ANS. FIX-WEST was used to transit commercial traffic. Once everyone is on the MAE, that FIX-WEST peering will be terminated. OC12 from MFS is becoming operational soon. MCI Metro and TCG teleport are also working to get fiber into AMES. Lance Tapman will be doing all the support work for MAE at Building 254 at AMES. Those federal agencies that need both type of connections will be multihomed between on both FIX and MAE. (This is true for both the EAST and WEST.)
The current load on the MAE-WEST is much lower that those at MAE-EAST. There will be a GIGASWITCH at AMES. The switch order will go out before May 31. They were considering a Lightstream, but will use GIGASWITCH because it is known to work.
Informally, it was suggested that all the interconnects should use 5 minutes measurement intervals for data gathering.
Milo is leaving the government. He goes to work TCI.