4/24    If I have two T1's to two ISPs and want to do load balancing between
        the ISPs do I need to use BGP (and have an AS#?)
        \_ No, this is not strictly necessary.  That said, there are other
           other advantages.  The main one is that by getting your own ASN and
           having a BGP capable router, you can purchase your own block of IP
           address space and be multi-homed.  If you are multi-homed, and one
           of your ISPs has a catastrophic failure (read: goes out of
           business, shuts all connectivity down), you don't drop off the net,
           and you can easily replace the dead ISP.
           \_ Ok, well, our ISP "prohibits" us from getting an ASN. What does
              that mean? Well, basically, they are forcing us to use a static
              route to them.
              \_ Uh, tell your ISP to go stick there head in a pig.  This
                 sounds like a lame ploy to force you into staying their
                 customer.  Since you're already planning on getting another
                 ISP (for your second T1), make sure they are amenable to your
                 plans to eventually be multi-homed.  Get the second T1 up,
                 tell your original ISP to shove it, replace the first T1, and
                 voila, multi-homed goodness.
              \_ What ISP is this?