Internet Exchange Points (IXPS)
The Euro-IX Video
Watch the original IXP video: The internet Revealed - five-minute movie about IXPs, available in 12 languages!
IXP Video #1
A movie about Internet Exchange Points (IXPs);
what they are and their role in the Internet
ecosystem. This is the first video in a series of
IXP videos - this video is aimed at helping
friends and family to understand what an
IXP is. The video was produced in collaboration
with our member IXPs.
Definition of an Internet Exchange Point
An Internet Exchange Point (IXP) is a network facility that enables the interconnection and exchange of Internet traffic between more than two independent Autonomous Systems.
An IXP provides interconnection only for Autonomous Systems.
An IXP does not require the Internet traffic passing between any pair of participating Autonomous Systems to pass through any third Autonomous System, nor does it alter or otherwise interfere with such traffic.
“Autonomous Systems” has the meaning given in BCP6/RFC1930 , “Guidelines for creation, selection, and registration of an Autonomous System (AS)”.
“Independent” means Autonomous Systems that are operated by organisational entities with separate legal personality.
Explanatory Notes
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An Internet Exchange Point is a technical facility. This is distinct from the organisation that provides that facility, which might be termed an IXP operator.
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An IXP is distinct from an Internet access network or a transit network/carrier.
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The function of an IXP is to interconnect networks, not to provide network access, nor to act as a transit provider/carrier, nor to provide other services unrelated to interconnection (although this does not preclude an IXP operator from also providing unrelated services).
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An IXP exists to interconnect networks that are technically and organisationally separate.
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Without qualification the term “network” is too flexible and fails to identify the degree or kind of separation required. Once interconnected, separate networks are arguably part of the same network: the entire Internet is often considered a network, a network of networks.
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To resolve this terminological problem we employ the term “Autonomous System”, which is the standard technical definition of a technically stand-alone network.
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The network operators whose autonomous systems are interconnected at/in/via an IXP are sometimes collectively termed “IXP participants”, which generalises the relationship between those entities and the IXP operator.
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An IXP is a facility where numerous participants interconnect (at least three); this distinguishes Internet Exchanges from bilateral network interconnection, in which one network connects to one other.
