RE: Exchange point networks

["Barry Raveendran Greene" <bgreene () cisco com>]

Another difference is cost:

+ Router Server - cost is workstation, software, and training. You need to
buy the RS software. $120,000 (Merit's price) is a lot of money to collect
for an IXP project in places like Kenya, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Philippines,
etc.).

+ Router Reflector - cost is a router (or a unix box with gated) and
training. (3620 works fine for a IXP with +60 ISPs).

Barry



> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-nanog () merit edu [mailto:owner-nanog () merit edu]On Behalf Of
> William B. Norton
> Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 11:27 AM
> To: Bill Woodcock; nanog () merit edu
> Subject: Re: Exchange point networks
>
>
>
> One difference is that Route Servers, like the ones run by Merit
> RSNG team,
> are based on the Internet Routing Registry, whereas route reflectors are
> not. Route Server routes are re-announced based upon configured
> IRR policy.
>
> I also think of Route Reflectors as being both internal AS (IGP) and
> external AS (BGP) re-announcers whereas Route Servers are
> strictly inter-AS
> (BGP).
>
> Bill
>
> > I've also heard some symantic confusion between route-servers and route
> > reflectors.  In conversation, I usually assume that distinction to be
> > between functionally equivalent boxes operating in the plenum between a
> > number of administrative domains (a route-server) or as glue between
> > regions or ASes within one administrative domain (a route reflector).
> > I don't know how common that understanding would be, though.  Anyone have
> > any better thoughts on the difference between a route-server and a route
> > reflector?