An Internet Protocol address is a numerical label such as 192.0.2.1 that is connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two main functions: network interface identification and location addressing.
Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a standardized exterior gateway protocol designed to exchange routing and reachability information among autonomous systems (AS) on the Internet. BGP is classified as a path-vector routing protocol, and it makes routing decisions based on paths, network policies, or rule-sets configured by a network administrator.
In computer networking, peering is a voluntary interconnection of administratively separate Internet networks for the purpose of exchanging traffic between the "down-stream" users of each network. Peering is settlement-free, also known as "bill-and-keep," or "sender keeps all," meaning that neither party pays the other in association with the exchange of traffic; instead, each derives and retains revenue from its own customers.
The London Internet Exchange ("LINX") is a mutually governed Internet exchange point (IXP) that provides peering services and public policy representation to network operators. LINX operates IXPs in London, Manchester, Scotland and Wales in the United Kingdom and Northern Virginia in the USA.
The Internet backbone may be defined by the principal data routes between large, strategically interconnected computer networks and core routers of the Internet. These data routes are hosted by commercial, government, academic and other high-capacity network centers, as well as the Internet exchange points and network access points, that exchange Internet traffic between the countries, continents, and across the oceans. Internet service providers, often Tier 1 networks, participate in Internet backbone traffic by privately negotiated interconnection agreements, primarily governed by the principle of settlement-free peering.
A Tier 1 network is an Internet Protocol (IP) network that can reach every other network on the Internet solely via settlement-free interconnection. Tier 1 networks can exchange traffic with other Tier 1 networks without paying any fees for the exchange of traffic in either direction. In contrast, some Tier 2 networks and all Tier 3 networks must pay to transmit traffic on other networks.
A virtual private network (VPN) extends a private network across a public network and enables users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network. The benefits of a VPN include increases in functionality, security, and management of the private network. It provides access to resources that are inaccessible on the public network and is typically used for remote workers. Encryption is common, although not an inherent part of a VPN connection.
Internet exchange points are common grounds of IP networking, allowing participant Internet service providers (ISPs) to exchange data destined for their respective networks. IXPs are generally located at places with preexisting connections to multiple distinct networks, i.e., datacenters, and operate physical infrastructure (switches) to connect their participants. Organizationally, most IXPs are each independent not-for-profit associations of their constituent participating networks. The primary alternative to IXPs is private peering, where ISPs directly connect their networks to each other.
The Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) is an Internet exchange point based in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Established in the early 1990s, AMS-IX is a non-profit, neutral and independent peering point.
The Toronto Internet Exchange Community (TorIX) is a not-for-profit Internet Exchange Point (IXP) located in a carrier hotel at 151 Front Street West, Equinix's TR2 data centre at 45 Parliament Street and 905 King Street West in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As of March 2021, TorIX has 259 unique autonomous systems representing 285 peer connections and peak traffic rates of 1.344 Tbps, making it the largest IXP in Canada. According to Wikipedia's List of Internet Exchange Points by Size, TorIX is the 16th largest IXP in the world in numbers of peers, and 17th in the world in traffic averages. The Exchange is organized and run by industry professionals in voluntary capacity.
Netnod AB is a private limited company based in Stockholm, Sweden, that operates Internet exchange points and manages one of the thirteen root name servers for the Domain Name System (DNS). It also distributes the official Swedish time through the Network Time Protocol (NTP). It is fully owned by the nonprofit foundation TU-stiftelsen / TU-foundation.
DE-CIX is a carrier- and data-center-neutral internet exchange point (IXP) situated in Frankfurt, Germany. It is the single largest exchange point worldwide in terms of average traffic throughput of 6.9 Tbit/s in April 2021. In addition to DE-CIX in Frankfurt, DE-CIX operates internet exchange points in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich (ALP-IX), New York City, Dallas, Dubai (UAE-IX), Palermo, Marseille, Istanbul, and Mumbai.
The Atlanta Internet Exchange (AtlantaIX) is an Internet Exchange Point situated in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. AtlantaIX is a fast-growing, neutral and independent peering point. The beginnings of the AtlantaIX can be traced back to 1997. The current version of the AtlantaIX was re-established on September 4, 2003 by Michael Lucking, GreatAccess.com, WV Fiber and 56 Marietta Street Partners. AtlantaIX was originally created as a free exchange point sponsored by the donations of the founders. Today AtlantaIX continues to run without any re-occurring charges to the participants. In 2007, one time port fees were instituted to aid in paying for a recently upgraded switch infrastructure. In January 2007, Michael Lucking purchased a new Foundry Networks Jetcore 15000 in order to support 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections. In January 2008 the switch fabric was migrated to a Cisco 6509 in order to support line rate 10 gigabit Ethernet. In early 2008, the AtlantaIX began supporting IPv6.
The Seattle Internet Exchange (SIX) is an Internet exchange point in Seattle, USA. Its switch fabric is centered at the Westin Building and extended to KOMO Plaza, Sabey Intergate, and other locations. The SIX is one of the most successful examples of neutral and independent peering points, created as a free exchange point originally sponsored only by donations. The SIX is the most frequently cited model upon which other neutral Internet exchanges are based, and its financial and governance models are often cited as inspiration for other exchanges. It continues to run without any recurring charges to the participants and current major funding comes from one-time 10 and 100 Gbit/s port fees. The SIX is a 501(c)(6) tax-exempt non-profit corporation.
Hurricane Electric is a global Internet service provider offering internet transit, tools, and network applications, as well as data center colocation and hosting services at 2 locations in Fremont, California, where the company is based.
Detroit Internet Exchange ("DET-iX") is a Nonprofit 501(c)(6) Internet exchange point (IXP) located in Southfield, Michigan. It was founded in 2014 to help establish peering for local and regional Internet service providers. DET-iX currently has 62 members, with a maximum peak transfer speed of 627.7 Gbit/s. DET-iX is the first peering exchange of its kind in the Detroit area.
France-IX is a Paris-based Internet exchange point (IXP) founded in June 2010 as a membership organisation. As of 21 July 2021 it interconnects more than 496 members, making it the largest IXP in France.
Grenoble Internet eXchange or GrenoblIX is the Internet eXchange point (IXP) of Grenoble in Isère and Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes region. GrenoblIX allows to the connected members to exchange the traffic in order to avoid passing by faraway infrastructures. This Internet eXchange point is managed by the non-profit organization Rezopole, founded in 2001.
Mumbai Internet Exchange is a Mumbai-based Internet exchange point (IXP) founded in 15 August 2014 as Mumbai Convergence Hub is an Open Carrier Neutral Internet Exchange & Peering Hub. As of 30 March 2021 it interconnects more than 375 members, making it the largest IXP in India and surrounding region.
The Uganda Internet Exchange Point (UIXP) is a non-profit Internet exchange point operator founded in 2001 with the goal of improving Internet connectivity within Uganda and the East African region, and is the only known internet exchange point in Uganda.
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