Principle of Internet Exchange

Objective

To construct a neutral and impartial internet exchange environment and promote sound development of Internet exchange in Taiwan, Taiwan Network Information Center (TWNIC) formulated the operation principles of Internet Exchange (hereinafter referred to as the "IXP").

Definition of Internet Exchange Center

The Internet Exchange referred by this document should be compliant with the following basic principles:

• Provide service of internet data exchange in a neutral operation environment.
• Have a clear and public peering policy.
• Have reciprocal peering of at least 15 ISPs.
• Have a clear operation scope of IXP.

Standards of IXP

• Facilities
  • AElectricity

    The equipment room should provide a 24-hour Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and 99.9% electric backup system to support 110V and 220V power depending upon the demand of clients

  • BAir conditioner

    In the equipment room, constant temperature should be maintained at 25℃ and constant humidity should be maintained below 70%.

  • CSecurity

    The equipment room should be a independent partition with fire-fighting facilities. Besides 24-hour secure guards, there must be door access controls systems and 24-hours camera surveillance system.

  • DNetwork equipment

    The IXP should adopt a dual-system backup design including Router Reflector and Ethernet switch to ensure high availability of the system.

• Service Rules of Data Exchange
  • AThe IXP should provide switching service of ISO layer 2 above. Ethernet switching mode is recommended.
  • BThe IXP should support patching of the optic fiber and UTP digital circuit. Depending upon the demand of clients for out-of-band network management, the IXP should also support installation and patching of voice circuits.
  • CAccording to the development of Internet technology, the IXP should provide the latest service of route exchanging.
• Service Standards
  • AThe IXP should provide 7x24, 365 days specialists for assistance in troubleshooting.
  • BThe IXP should provide a web-based looking glass tool to support troubleshooting of clients.
  • CThe IXP should provide remote manual troubleshooting assistance. Clients could inform TWIX Work Force Group of some troubleshooting actions, such as reporting the status of equipment lamps, rebooting the equipment, and looping test of communication interfaces etc.
  • DThe IXP should publicize overall traffic statistics periodically.
  • EThe IXP could design deferent charge plans according to different Service Level Agreements.
  • FThere must be service standards for each service which should be reviewed periodically to meet clients’ demand in practice.
• Rules for Self-Circuiting Connection
  • AIXP should provide at least two-rack space for the client with self circuits and equipments. The related expense should be paid by the applicant.
  • BThe client with self circuits should prepare and install necessary equipments and be responsible for the connection to IXP equipment room.
  • CThose IXPs approved by TWNIC before are not limited by these rules.
• Rules of IXP peering
  • AIt is suggested that the IXP should at least peer with one another IXP based on an impartial and reasonable principle. In emergency cases, IXPs should provide staffs and equipments for backuping each other to maintain the availability of Taiwan's internet.
  • BIt is suggested that two IXPs should share the circuit cost based on a reciprocal principle. Details of operation could be negotiated by both IXPs.

Administration of IXPs

• To ensure the fairness and neutrality of IXPs, the operation of IXPs is supervised by "IP Address and Protocol Committee in TWNIC".
• The affairs administrated by IXPs include requirements of peering, pricing, QoS and other related items.
• In principle, the operation of IXPs should be reviewed at least every two years or aperiodically if necessary. If the operation of an IXP is not compliant with these rules, the IXP should solve the problem as soon as possible. In serious cases, TWIX could revoke its qualified certification.

Appendix

• Operation principle of Internet Exchange will put into practice after approved by "IP Address and Protocol Committee in TWNIC" as well as the modification.

Revision Schedule

2001.11.21 Amended and approved by the 12th IP Address and Protocol Committee
2001.11.06 Revised by IXTF
2001.10.30 Draft of IXTF