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A Scottish Internet Exchange:A Scottish Internet Exchange: Benefits, Viability, Options Benefits, Viability, Options
Keith MitchellExecutive Chairman
London Internet Exchange LtdDirector, NOMINET
Chair, RIPE NCC
http://www.linx.net/
Jargon BusterJargon Buster
• IXP = Internet Exchange Point
• NAP= Network Access Point
• MAE= Metro Area Ethernetsame things
• ISP = Internet Service Provider
OverviewOverview
• What is anInternet Exchange Point ?
• What are the benefits ?
• Introduction to the LINX
• What is co-location ?
• When is it viable ?
• What are the options for Scotland ?
HistoryHistory
• 3 UK Internet Providers in 1992
• First IXP in US (“MAE-East”) in 1992
• Soon after in:• Stockholm, Amsterdam, Geneva
• LINX founded in October 1994 by 5 members
• now >150 UK ISPs in 1998 • >50 with direct international connections
What is an IXP ?What is an IXP ?
• A network, usually in one building
• Multiple ISPs connect the “edge” of their backbone to it
• Facilitates traffic exchange (or peering) between ISPs
• Peering involves exchange of customer traffic only• without going via distant 3rd parties
IXP TechnologiesIXP Technologies• LAN based
• needs backbone node co-location• e.g. Fast Ethernet, FDDI• most IXPs work this way
• WAN based• avoids need for co-lo• dependent on single telco• e.g. Frame Relay, SMDS, ATM• few IXPs work this way
IXP ModelsIXP Models
• Owned & operated by telecoms carrier• most ISPs = carriers• common in US, e.g. MAEs, NAPs• not good for competition
• Neutral member co-operative• common in Europe, e.g. LINX
• Owned & operated by co-lo provider • e.g. Palo Alto IX
What are Benefits of IXPs ?What are Benefits of IXPs ?
• Avoid traffic going the long way round
• Cheaper local bandwidth
• Faster local access
• One connection to many simpler & cheaper than many to each
IXP Benefits (1)IXP Benefits (1)
• Keeps local traffic local:• UK traffic within UK• European traffic in Europe
• Improves resilience
• They work:• Even small countries have IXPs• Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal
IXP Benefits (2)IXP Benefits (2)
• Attract & consolidate infrastructure
• Generate local business:• telecoms• co-location• content (export)• e-commerce (export)
• Promote fair competition
• Co-ordinate engineering
LINX StatusLINX Status
• Established Oct 94 by 5 member ISPs• Now 57 members
• steady linear growth• about 1 new member every month• UK, European, International members
• Not-for-profit association of ISPs• Neutral locations in London Docklands
• Telehouse• TeleCity
LINX Members 94-98LINX Members 94-98
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Members Applications
LINX MembersLINX MembersAT & T Frontier Technology Oleane
ANS UK GlobalCenter Onyx
Atlas GlobalOne Planet Online
BT Internet Services Graphnet PSI UK
Cable & Wireless GTS (Sovam) RedNet
TeleWest (Cable Internet) GX Networks (Xara) QUZA
Carrier1 HighwayOne Technocom
Cerbernet IBM Global Network Tele Danmark
Claranet ICL (ECRC) Teleglobe
COLT INSnet Telia
Compuserve IPf U-Net Internet
Demon Internet Services Ireland Online UUNET UK
Deutsche Telekom mediaWays UKERNA (JANET)
Direct Connection Mistral VASnet
Easynet Nacamar VBCnet
Esat Net NETCOM WireHub!
EuroNet NetKonect Wisper Bandwidth
Exodus Nildram XTML
Freedom 2 Surf NTL Internet Zoo Corporation
LINX ObjectivesLINX Objectives• Primary Objective:
“To provide efficient interconnectivity
for the UK Internet”• Realise this by aiming to keep 100% of UK
Internet traffic in the UK
• Secondary Objective:
“To promote the interests of its members”• Latter is only done on specific issues, and where
there is formal approval of a major consensus among members.
LINX OrganisationLINX Organisation
• Public company limited by guarantee• Membership meetings every 2 months
• determine policy and strategy• Membership appoints Council of 6 at
AGM• Full-time Executive Chairman• Office in Peterborough,
Cambridgeshire• 7+ FTE staff
Co-Location FacilitiesCo-Location Facilities
• Computer “Hotels”
• Sell (by the rack):• space• protected electricity• air conditioning• security• telecoms bearers• disaster recovery• value-added services
TelehouseTelehouse• Located in London Docklands
• on meridian line at 0º longitude !
• Built as disaster recovery centre• 24x7 manned, controlled access• Highly resilient infrastructure• Diverse fibre from most UK carriers• Diverse power from national grid,
multiple generators• Owned by consortium:
• KDD, Japanese banks, BT
Co-Lo and IXPsCo-Lo and IXPs• Natural synergy
• competitive market in one place• e.g. for content providers
• ISPs need good backbone node sites
• e.g. • Telehouse, TeleCity, Palo Alto IX
• Help create critical mass of Internet, E-commerce business
When is an IXP viable ?When is an IXP viable ?
• Mainly telecoms traffic economics• high cost of international circuits
• Need 3-5 ISPs with about 2Mbps of local traffic each
• local traffic typically about 30% of total traffic
• i.e. about E3 = ~34Mbps total traffic into IXP coverage area
IXP ViabilityIXP Viability• IXPs almost always save money
• Can build cheaply with:• £200 hub• £1500 routers• one rack
• But better to re-invest savings
• Costs extra network complexitystaff skills
IXP Viability - IXP Viability - Unseen ElementsUnseen Elements
• IXP and co-lo business may be viable together if not separately
• Performance & cost benefits to all local Internet users
• Out-of-region players may pay to connect to local market• international fibre ?
• Other uses for infrastructure• e.g. disaster recovery, call centres
IXP Options for Scotland (1)IXP Options for Scotland (1)
Neutral member co-operative
• Need most of major ISP/telco players to participate
• Set up not-for-profit member-owned IXP organisation
• Put tender out for neutral fixed term contract co-location of IXP• commercial co-lo provider
IXP Options for Scotland (2)IXP Options for Scotland (2)
Combined Commercial Co-lo & IXP
• Less good for competition2nd choice
• More viable if lacking some major players
• Will need significant investment up-front
Future of IXPsFuture of IXPs
• Major growth area• International telecomms
deregulation should reduce need for national IXPs (but not soon)
• Small number of major pan-European Exchanges
• Internet traffic growth will increase need for regional/metropolitan Exchanges
SummarySummary
• IXPs save money and grow business & infrastructure
• Model proven in many other countries
• We don’t know if one is viable in Scotland
but having one will greatly benefit local Internet industry