Peering Exchange

Tue Jan 26 18:48:13 UTC 2016

Colton,

We are a member on the Equinix IX. Maybe best for you to speak to an Equinix SE on the topic, but there are two main connection methods. In laymen's terms you can be a member on the switch and then build peering relationships within any other network that will have you. Meaning, you reach out to them or they reach out to you via their contacts in PeeringDB and setup a typical BGP session but usually only exchanging private routes. Therefore you are are not providing transit to the other. 

The other option Equinix offers is their MLPE (Multi-Lateral Peering Exchange). Essentially from what we understand you peer once to Equinix's router and all other participants and you are able to exchange traffic. It's not an all or none, you can use filtering to exclude specific ASNs. We are not a member of this service today. 

Sincerely,
Nick Ellermann – CTO & VP Cloud Services
BroadAspect

E: nellermann at broadaspect.com 
P: 703-297-4639
F: 703-996-4443

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-----Original Message-----
From: NANOG [mailto:nanog-bounces at nanog.org] On Behalf Of Colton Conor
Sent: Monday, January 25, 2016 10:22 PM
To: NANOG <nanog at nanog.org>
Subject: Peering Exchange

If a service provider or enterprise orders collocation at an Equinix Global Internet Exchange Point, and orders a port on the exchange from Equinix, then what happens? How does a provider actually peer with the peers on the exchange?

Lets assume the SP or enterprise already has an ANS, transit from multiple providers, and a BGP router that can accept and hold full routes.

You can see the members of the exchange on peeringdb.com. Many of the members say their policy is Open with little to no traffic requirements. So does just ordering a port to the exchange automatically connect you with all of these open providers, or do you have to contact each on individually?