Question on peering strategies

Sun May 22 06:33:38 UTC 2016

Hi All,

I wonder why a "VLAN exchange" does not exists. Or I do not know any?

In my understanding it should be a switch, and people connected can
easily order a private VLAN between each other (or to private group)
through some kind of web interface.

That should be a more easy and much less expensive way for private
interconnects than direct wires.

On 16.05.16 20:46, Reza Motamedi wrote:
> Dear Nanogers,
> 
> I have a question about common/best network interconnection practices.
> Assume that two networks (let's refer to them as AS-a and AS-b) are present
> in a colocation facility say Equinix LA. As many of you know, Equininx runs
> an IXP in LA as well. So AS-as and AS-b can interconnct
> 1) using private cross-connect
> 2) through the public IXP's switching fabric.
> Is it a common/good practice for the two networks to establish connections
> both through the IXP and also using a private cross-connect?
> 
> I was thinking considering the cost of cross-connects (my understanding is
> that the colocation provider charges the customers for each cross-connect
> in addition to the rent of the rack or cage or whatever), it would not be
> economically reasonable to have both. Although, if the cross-connect is the
> primary method of interconnection, and the IXP provides a router-server the
> public-peering over IXP would essentially be free. So it might makes sense
> to assume that for the private cross-connect, there exists a back-up
> connection though the IXP. Anyway, I guess some discussion may give more
> insight about which one is more reasonable to assume and do.
> 
> Now my last question is that if the two connections exist (one private
> cross-connect and another back-up through the IXP), what are the chances
> that periodically launched traceroutes that pass the inter-AS connection in
> that colo see both types of connection in a week. I guess what I'm asking
> is how often back-up routes are taken? Can the networks do load balancing
> on the two connection and essentially use them as primary routes?
> 
> Best Regards
> Reza Motamedi (R.M)
> Graduate Research Fellow
> Oregon Network Research Group
> Computer and Information Science
> University of Oregon
> 