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Internet Exchange Points & Colocation

Internet Exchange Points & Colocation. Keith Mitchell, Executive Chairman London Internet Exchange. Colocation Summit, 30th June 2000. Bridging the Gulf. Co-Locate Providers CLP s Internet Service Providers ISP s Internet Exchange Points IXP s ( NAP s) Co-Locate Facilities CLF s.

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Internet Exchange Points & Colocation

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  1. Internet Exchange Points & Colocation Keith Mitchell, Executive Chairman London Internet Exchange Colocation Summit, 30th June 2000

  2. Bridging the Gulf • Co-Locate ProvidersCLPs • Internet Service ProvidersISPs • Internet Exchange Points IXPs (NAPs) • Co-Locate FacilitiesCLFs

  3. LINX - History & Status • Started October 1994 • Neutral, not-for-profit • Now largest exchange in Europe • 4th or 5th In world • 100+ ISP Members • ‘World Class’ facility • Model for other IXPs

  4. LINX 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, where there is formal approval of strong consensus among members

  5. LINX Principles • Neutral locations • Not owned by ISPs or telcos • Neutral management • By association of members • Neutral operation • By dedicated autonomous staff • Should not compete with members’ services • No retail members, only ISPs • Well-funded quality facilities and infrastructure

  6. Principles (continued) • “Natural” national monopoly should be: • Not for profit • Efficient • Accountable • Routing policy is purely a matter for members, though some constraints: • Members must peer with at least 1 other • Direct bilateral connections also permitted

  7. LINX Members Cumulative 1994 - 2000

  8. 1 Members by Country Total = 109

  9. Network Topology

  10. Gigabit Ethernet MAN • First deployed: • inter-switch 98Q4 • inter-site 99Q1 • Available to members: • pilot 99Q4 • service 00Q2 - 8 members • higher than forecast demand as members break the 100Mbps barrier • Total LINX traffic peak ~2.5Gbps

  11. LINX Colocation Principles • Some important concepts established from inception • UK National IXP should be: • independent of any one CLP • located at commercial-quality facility (traditionally academic) • located at neutral facility

  12. Initial LINX Locations • From October 94 at Telehouse • Rewarding relationship for both parties  • But around 1997, Telehouse mostly full  • Also resilience concerns • Went out to tender for second site • 3 bids • But winning bidder pulled out 

  13. Model Evolution • Re-tendered • Commissioned 2nd Primary site with winners Telecity in 1998 • High quality of bids • Major co-lo provider growth in London Docklands & City area • Interest from 7 other CLPs • Requirements from LINX Members • Created ‘Expansion Site’ plan

  14. BT City Reach EGT/NTL Equinix Guardian DR Internet Facilitators InterXion IX Europe Level3 London Switch Redbus Interhouse ScoLocate/Zereau SGRS TeleCity Telehouse Interested Parties

  15. Some ISP Trends • Can’t fit all the content farms in one CLF • Need to be at multiple CLFs • Distinction between ISPs/CLPs/ content providers diminishing • Dark fibre becoming more available and cheaper

  16. Some CLP Trends • Major influx of new players and money • Successful CLFs filling up • CLFs running out of rack and riser space • Still demand/supply gap for quality colo: • not enough competition • high costs • Multiple CLFs per CLP per city

  17. Some IXP Trends • More members, more traffic, bigger switches • Running out of space • Throwing out the content farms • Trying to become CLF independent • Native multicast finally arriving • Multiple cities per country

  18. Thesis • IXPs originally providedefficient, co-ordinated connectivity through co-operation between ISPs • To evolve they must provide efficient, co-ordinated connectivity between CLFs & ISPs through co-operation between CLPs and ISPs

  19. Corollary • IXPs which are not CLF independent will become increasingly tied to one CLP • Preserving neutrality requires: • avoiding above • providing intra-city connectivity only

  20. The Alternative  • Multiple commercially competing CLFs per metro area will each have own IXP • Each ISP will need (either/both): • a presence at many CLFs • many private bi-lateral interconnects • The latter do not scale well across either full or many buildings

  21. The Strategy • Build an: • efficient • co-ordinated • neutral • not-for-profit dark fibre IXP between as many CLFs as possible

  22. The Strategy • Make IXP connection a: • single location • cheap • simple • facility independent service option for all ISPs

  23. IXP/CLP Partnership Benefits • Increased customer base • Cost-effective use of infrastructure • Enhanced marketing & publicity opportunities • Brand quality validation • Skills transfer

  24. Why become a LINX site? • LINX Members already appearing at new CLP sites • Potential LINX Members enquiring about co-lo space • LINX presence a great attraction to ISPs • LINX presence represents high QoS

  25. Basic Principles • Must not expose LINX to unnecessary financial risk • Costs borne by site operators • Must not interfere with the operation of the ‘core’ facilities • Will be as simple as possible to implement • LINX must not distort market

  26. Basic Principles (continued) • Normal LINX Quality of Service will apply • Differential between ‘Primary’ and ‘Expansion’ sites maintained • ‘Primary’ sites must be neutral • ‘Expansion’ site relationship non-exclusive, need not be neutral • Not all LINX facilities will be available

  27. Application Process • Sites must have >2 Members or potential Members • Mechanism for testing clearly laid out in plan • Sites must meet technical criteria • Standardised LINX Contract back-to-back with standard CLP contract

  28. Technical Criteria • Number of carriers with fibre into facility • Size of facility • Number of engineers, 24x7 operators • Security measures • Separate LINX cage located centrally • Fire protection system • Power: capacity, UPS, generators • Air conditioning • Verify by site visit

  29. Selection Process • First selection test • Number of Members at site committed to connecting • Second selection test • Number of potential new Members submitting draft application • Tie breaker • IETF Random selection process

  30. Current Status • Primary sites at: • Telehouse, TeleCity • LINX purchased IRU on dark fibre to implement Gigabit MAN • Q1 2000: • Redbus Interhouse • Telehouse Eastern extension • Q2 2000: • Guardian DR, InterXion, IX Europe • equipment ready, waiting for fibre

  31. Conclusions • Have learnt lessons: • Physical infrastructure build quite painless • Contractual/legal issues very time consuming • New entrants to colo market a little over optimistic • Need to build relationship and trust with & between many CLPs • Each one gets easier 

  32. The Future • Developing 'Build your own exchange site' handbook • Open to further Expansion Site bids • Provisional approval from LINX members to work with CLFs: • outside London M25 • not connected to existing sites

  33. Further Information • http://www.linx.net • info@linx.org • +44 1733 207700 • Fax 1733 353929

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