[28178] in North American Network Operators' Group
Re: Peering Table Question
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Randy Bush)
Wed Apr 19 15:13:59 2000
From: Randy Bush <randy@psg.com>
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To: Jeff Barrows <jsb@UU.NET>
Cc: nanog@nanog.org
Message-Id: <E12hztE-00016r-00@rip.psg.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 12:11:56 -0700
Errors-To: owner-nanog-outgoing@merit.edu
> Though I have seen many articles, web pages, and other
> tables that detail which networks are 'peering,' I
> have never seen an accurate representation of this
> type of data from a third party.
amen!
> To further complicate matters, many networks out there
> are mis-representing themselves as [cost-free-] peering
> with other networks when they are actually customers, or
> in some type of 'settlement' arrangement.
i contend that one can count the true tier one networks on the fingers
of two hands.
> As for your second question about the locations that
> networks interconnect, many networks consider this
> information sensitive as well-- though during your
> conversations with them, they will typically exchange
> that data with you-- though probably under a mutual
> NDA. Some choose to peer in locations where it is
> the most cost-effective between the two networks,
> while others peer in a smaller set of locations that
> make sense from a network hierarchy/topology perspective.
> The decision about whether to peer with a given network
> privately/directly versus at a public exchange point
> is often based on the amount of traffic to be exchanged,
> the network coverage area, and other such criteria.
>
> With a bit of knowledge, tools, routing table vantage
> points, and time, you should be able to find out most
> of what you want to know on your own.
>
> You might start by asking the operators of the exchange
> points (where you intend to connect) who their current
> customers are-- then you can contact those networks
> individually. Some exchange points will give you an
> "I want to peer with you" form and a list of e-mail
> addresses, so that you can mass-request.
>
> Don't get cook'ed by the wealth of misinformation out
> there.
people should spend the tree and print jsb's message and frame it.
randy
