FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS IOPS.ORG ("IOPS"), formed in May 1997, is a group of commercial Internet service providers (ISPs) dedicated to improving Internet operations and performance, to benefit not only the industry, but the public as a whole. The mission of IOPS is to promote engineering efforts required to maintain and enhance an operational global Internet. IOPS addresses issues that require joint activity and technical information-sharing across and among ISPs, including joint problem resolution, technology assessment, and global Internet scaling and integrity. To accomplish its goals, IOPS supports engineering analysis, system simulation and testing, and interaction with other groups and organizations as appropriate.
How does IOPS differ from other "Internet organizations"?
IOPS membership comprises companies which provide access and/or transport services for Internet traffic. IOPS focuses primarily on resolving and on preventing technical and operational problems that require inter-ISP coordination. IOPS does not develop standards and it does not lobby.
Are there similar organizations in other industries?
IOPS bears some similarity to the Network Reliability Steering Committee (NRSC) of the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions. IOPS performs analogous functions in solving the kinds of network integrity problems that require cooperation among members of the same industry. Like the NRSC, IOPS is concerned with ensuring a continued high level of network reliability, which means that some level of technical cooperation among industry players is essential.
Who are the current members of IOPS?
The current members are ANS Communications, AT&T, Cable & Wireless, EarthLink Network, Epoch Internet, GTE Internetworking, IBM, NETCOM, PSINet, Qwest, Sprint, and UUNET.
What are the criteria for becoming a member of IOPS?
There are two categories of membership, Primary and Associate. The criteria for each category are given at www.iops.org/iops-membinfo.html.
What commitments must members make?
In order to ensure that IOPS is effective, members must participate in IOPS activities and contribute actively to its goals and objectives. Members pay annual dues which support IOPS personnel and activities. The current dues are $20,000 for a Primary Member; $5,000 for an Associate Member.
How does IOPS interact with non-members who have a stake in Internet performance?
IOPS works as appropriate with others, including other Internet organizations, the information industry, vendors of Internet equipment, and other interested entities. In various activities, IOPS has worked with CERT, IETF, ISPSEC, and NANOG.
What specific technical work has IOPS accomplished?
IOPS has, among other things:
How does IOPS accomplish its work?
The operation of IOPS is directed by an Executive Committee. Technical work is performed by working groups comprising employees of the member companies. Most work is accomplished at IOPS plenary meetings, which currently are held approximately quarterly.
Are IOPS's technical results made available to non-members?
The fundamental purpose of IOPS is to increase the integrity and reliability of the Internet. The group therefore has a commitment, to the maximum extent feasible, to make public any results which will contribute to that end.
What is the role of the Corporation for National Research Initiatives?
The Corporation for National Research Initiatives (CNRI), a non-profit corporation located in Reston, VA, is assisting in the startup of IOPS by hosting professional staff and by providing ancillary services to facilitate IOPS's activities. For more information about CNRI, see .
