Re: Local Peering Points

[Matthew Petach <mpetach () netflight com>]

> I've been having an offline debate and wanted to take a quick 
> lithmus test...Mostly aimed at the folks who don't currently 
> peer at any of the 'nationally recognized peering points', but I'll 
> take answers from anyone...Ya'll are always so short on opinions. :-}

*smile*

And we're always so fast to leap in with them, even when
we're still 200 messages behind, and not likely to catch
up before responding.
 
> If someone presented you with the following options:
>
>       1) $X connect to a local peering point and peer with other 
>               local/regional ISPs (MLPA) You retain current transit.
>       2) $X+$Y connect to a local peering point and peer with other 
>               local/regional ISPs plus the host (a decent sized national 
>               carrier) You retain current transit.
>       3) $X+$Y+$Z Purchase transit from the host, not including access 
>               to the local peering points
>
> Would purchasing #3 prevent or discourage you from purchasing #1 and 
> would purchasing #1 or #2 prevent or discourage you from purchasing 
> #3? How do folks feel about the concept of local peering points?

Much of this depends on the relative orders of magnitude for
X, Y, and Z.  If X is relatively small compared to Z, I don't
think many people would even have to think once before purchasing
both #3 and #1, so long as there was no contractual limitation
on what other peering could be obtained when purchasing option #3.

Assuming a reasonable transit carrier already, #2 would definitely
preclude #3.  There's greater benefit (IF you already have a good
transit carrier) in the redundancy afforded by hearing routes
from multiple sources, and having multiple outbound announcements.
If a peering session drops in #2, only that peer loses your
announcements.  Case #3, peer drops, you lose everything at that
location.  :(

Local peering points are best used for just that.  Exchange
traffic with others in your area.  I don't think LOCAL exchange
points should be used as places to try to offload traffic destined
for far-reaching endpoints multiple hops away.  That's what transit
carriers are for, and I think transit carriage of traffic out of
local regions is only going to increase, as the major players
stop seeing value at the local exchange points.  It's a great
market for a company that wants to stop selling to end-users,
and who simply wants to provide transit pipes to regional and
local exchange points.

Of course, it's past 1am, and I'm just babbling, so feel free
to totally ignore this.  :)

 
> Comments, public or private, are, of course, welcome.
> bob iii (not speaking for anyone but myself, & certainly not my employer...)

Matt Petach,
barely able to speak for himself, let alone an employer.

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