Understanding How Facebook Disappeared from the Internet: The Power of BGP and Disruptive Technologies

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Aug 08, 2023

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Understanding How Facebook Disappeared from the Internet: The Power of BGP and Disruptive Technologies

The Internet, as we know it today, relies heavily on the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) to function. BGP is a mechanism that allows the exchange of routing information between different autonomous systems (AS) on the Internet. Without BGP, routers would be lost, and the Internet would cease to work. It acts as the glue that holds the vast network of networks together.

To grasp the significance of BGP, let's take a look at the recent incident where Facebook disappeared from the Internet. It was as if someone had pulled the cables from their data centers, disconnecting them from the rest of the online world. The reason behind this sudden disappearance lay in the withdrawal of routes announced by Facebook's Autonomous System Number (ASN).

Each network, including Facebook, has its own ASN, which represents an individual network with a unified internal routing policy. For the Internet to function smoothly, every ASN needs to announce its prefix routes through BGP. This announcement allows other networks to know how to connect and where to find a particular network.

On a fateful day, at 1658 UTC, Facebook stopped announcing its DNS prefix routes through BGP. This action had a cascading effect, causing Facebook's DNS servers to become unavailable. As a result, Facebook and all its associated sites effectively disconnected themselves from the Internet. With no route announcement, DNS resolvers across the Internet had no way to connect to Facebook's nameservers.

Now, let's shift our focus to the concept of disruptive technologies. A popular belief is that the next big thing will start out looking like a toy. This theory is rooted in the observation that technologies tend to improve at a faster rate than users' needs increase. This means that what may seem like a toy at first can quickly evolve into a revolutionary force.

To distinguish between toys that remain mere toys and toys that disrupt the market, we must examine products as processes. While adding features to a product can enhance its value, the real power lies in external forces. These forces include factors like the decreasing cost of microchips, the widespread availability of bandwidth, and the increasing intelligence of mobile devices.

A disruptive product needs to be designed in a way that takes advantage of these external forces to ride up the utility curve. One fascinating case is social software, where the actions of users play a vital role in improving the product. Take Wikipedia, for example. Its success can be attributed to subtle design features that channel user edits to yield a net improvement over time. As long as Wikipedia continued to get better, it eventually met and surpassed users' needs for encyclopedic information.

However, not all valuable products need to be disruptive. There are plenty of products that serve a useful purpose from day one and continue to be valuable in the long run. These are known as sustaining technologies. Startups that develop useful sustaining technologies often find themselves quickly acquired or copied by established incumbents.

To conclude, the disappearance of Facebook from the Internet highlighted the critical role played by BGP in keeping our interconnected world running smoothly. It also serves as a reminder that the next big thing may initially appear insignificant, dismissed as a mere toy. However, by embracing the power of disruptive technologies and understanding the forces that drive improvement, we can create products that have the potential to reshape industries.

Three actionable pieces of advice emerge from this discussion:

  • 1. Pay attention to the underlying infrastructure: Just as BGP is the backbone of the Internet, understanding the core mechanisms and technologies that power your industry is crucial. By staying informed about the infrastructure, you can anticipate potential disruptions and make informed decisions.
  • 2. Embrace the power of disruptive technologies: Look beyond what is currently considered mainstream or significant. Keep an eye on emerging technologies and trends that have the potential to revolutionize your field. By recognizing and harnessing these forces, you can position yourself ahead of the curve.
  • 3. Design for user-driven improvement: If your product involves user interactions, focus on creating an environment that encourages continuous improvement. Implement design features that channel user actions toward positive outcomes. This way, your product can evolve and meet users' needs over time, ensuring long-term success.

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, understanding the interconnectedness of networks, the potential of disruptive technologies, and the importance of user-driven improvement can set you on a path to success. By incorporating these insights into your strategies, you can navigate the ever-changing terrain and stay ahead of the competition.

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