How Do ISP's Work?

[ElijahBaley]

Hello,

Just wondered if anyone could help to paint a real world picture of how ISP's interact with the Internet.

Starting from my UK work place we have 1720 router connected (via a firewall) to a 1MB leased line to to our ISP, I assume that this would be a serial connection as it connects to a BT csu/dsu clocking device, but what kind of equipment would the ISP be using? what does the ISP connect to? what is the Internet backbone and who's in charge of it?

Is it true that ISP routers use a dedicated, assigned IP range for their exterior routers?

Anything else that I should know?

Thanks in advance for any help,

 

[ElijahBaley]

Well, just in case anyone else is interested I have found one interesting looking web resource:

http://navigators.com/isp.html

EB