Internet Performance Gets Y2K Look

Most concern over the Y2K computer bug so far has focused on the potential effects on the physical world. But at least one company will be watching the Internet for signs of trouble.
     Keynote, an online diagnostics and consulting firm that measures Internet performance, plans to monitor the performance and availability of the Internet in all global time zones as the calendar turns over. A Y2K problem in any Internet component, the company says, could produce a cascading effect on the Web's performance and availability.
     Keynote says it will measure a major Web site in each of the 24 global time zones in over 90 locations. This, the company says, will provide an immediate perspective on the effect of Y2K based on more than 200,000 measurements each day during the changeover.
     Keynote will make results available in a report and on its hotline at (650) 522-1234, which will be updated hourly on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.