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Table of Contents
What do I need for Peering
This section of the Toolbox describes what a network operator needs before embarking on their peering journey.
Recap
A network operator embarking on their peering journey now knows:
- What their goals as a service provider are
- How the Internet Ecosystem is structured
- What Peering is
- What Transit is
- How Peering helps with operating costs, reducing latency, increasing bandwidth, improving relationships
- What Private Peering is
- What Public Peering is
- What an Internet Exchange Point is
What needs to be done next to start the journey? This is covered in the following section.
Internet Resources
The Peering Toolbox mentioned elsewhere that Network Operators required Internet Resources.
When the industry talks about Internet Resources, we mean our own independent IPv4 address space, IPv6 address space, and Autonomous System Number (ASN). A Network Operator needs their own independent Internet Resources to be able to take part in the global peering ecosystem.
We will look at each in turn.
IPv4 Address Space
To take part in the peering ecosystem, a Network Operator will quite likely require its own independent IPv4 address space.
Background
IPv4 addresses have been used since the early days of the global Internet as we know it today. IPv4 addresses are distributed by the five Regional Internet Registries (AfriNIC, APNIC, ARIN, LACNIC, RIPE NCC).
To all intents and purposes the global Internet has exhausted the IPv4 address supply, with only AfriNIC and APNIC having limited IPv4 resources available, and only for new members now.
The other three Regional Internet Registries have no IPv4 address space to distribute, although from time to time may have limited amount of address space available, reclaimed from network operators who no longer require it.
Obtaining IPv4 Address space
A tutorial on obtaining IPv4 address space is well beyond the scope of the Peering Toolbox. Each RIR website has lots of information on obtaining IPv4 address space, whether directly from the RIR itself or by their respective transfer policies (IPv4 addresses transferred from one RIR member to another), and the RIR websites should be consulted for further information and guidance.
The Internet Routing Registry
Route Origin Authorisation
The Peering Database
References
This content is sourced from many contributors, including:
- Value of Peering Presentation - Philip Smith
- Network Startup Resource Center
- Input from Mark Tinka, Kurt Erik Lindqvist, etc