TPIX (Taipei Internet eXchange) has been established in Mar. 2002 for the purpose of providing neutral Internet traffic exchange services for Internet service providers and content services providers, so that they can exchange Internet traffic economically and effectively. On January 25, 2002, TPIX was approved for IX qualification in “The 13th meeting of IP Address and Protocol Committee” hosted by TWNIC.
TPIX platform are located and operated in Chief Telecom Taipei LY Building, which is the most famous neutral IDC service provider in Taiwan. With complete Power, CRAC, Security and environment monitoring and controlling management by Chief Telecom, TPIX provides a high quality and security Internet exchange service to its members. The LY building also aggregates lots of global and domestic carriers, ISPs, ICPs and Internet value-added service providers, and TPIX members shall each take what they needs via TPIX public peering or private peering services here.
- TPIX platform had completed the hardware upgrade plan and provide high speed and quality GE/10GE/100GE connection to TPIX members.
- TPIX supports IPv4 and IPv6.
TPIX architecture had upgraded to Cisco new-generation Nexus 9508 switch for enhancement of capacity, scalability and resilience in May. 2017, and provides the members high speed access and exchange capability via GE, 10GE and 100 GE connections.TPIX supports IPv4 and IPv6.
The network architecture of TPIX is composed of redundant Ethernet Switch, redundant Route servers. The model of these major equipment are:
- (1)Ethernet switch：Cisco Nexus 9508。
- (2)Route Server：Bird。
Ethernet switch provide ISP 1GE, 10GE or 100GE interface connection，and ISPs must prepare their own BGP router.
Route Server create peering sessions between ISPs and processing routes.
The TPIX provides a “Layer 2 Service.” TPIX members could be required to exchange their routing information among each other. The protocol to be used will be the BGP4 (Border Gateway Protocol version 4). In order to distinguish ISP’s within this transaction, a valid AS number is required. Before you apply for TPIX member, each ISP should acquire valid AS number and IP address for NIC. TPIX can support 4-byte AS Number today.
Under the “Layer 2 Service,” solely connecting to the IX port will not enable the flow of traffic. There is a need to make necessary setups for exchanging each other’s routing information on their connected router. This is called “peering”. New TPIX member will not automatically peer all of the TPIX members. ISP will need to make a “peering negotiation” with the members you wish to peer beforehand. After negotiating and getting approval from other members, you will set the respective routers to accomplish the connection. TPIX does not guarantee its member will agree to peer with other members. TPIX member reserve the right to accept or reject peer request from and other members.
For security and protection purpose, TPIX has following connection policies:
- TPIX will turn on port security with the MAC address connected from participant to the TPIX switch. At any time, only permitted MAC addresses will be allowed on each TPIX port and TPIX participant must inform TPIX NOC by email if there is any change or maintenance on MAC address.
- Storm control of broadcast is enabled at all ports to members. Platform will automatically shutdown the port measured higher then specific rate (1M bps) without prior notification.
- Participants must DISABLE proxy arp on their layer3 interface towards TPIX at all times to decrease the probability of DoS attacks.
- TPIX does NOT support trunk port or VLAN mapping to our switches.
- Participants must not leak IXP ipv4/ipv6(v4:203.163.222.0/23, v6:2406:D400:1:133:203:163:222:0/111) prefixes to any peers(Include not redistribute connected route to IGP, that is to treat IXP service prefixes as non-routable.
- TPIX will turn on BPDUGUARD. Device(s) connected to the TPIX port are not allowed to be visible as L2 bridges. This means that they should not speak STP (spanning tree).
- TPIX recommends members to configure maximum prefix limit for BGP sessions established with our route servers to 210k for IPv4, and 120k for IPv6
- The TPIX route servers implement a default maximum prefix limit of 2k for IPv4 and IPv6. Any requests to increase these limits should be submitted on an as-needed basis. Any requirement, please email: service@chief.com.tw
For more information about TPIX peering policy and contact information, please also refer to the PeeringDB (https://www.peeringdb.com/ix/823).
For TPIX member’s convenience to directly negotiate peering with the others, all TPIX member information will be listed in Member List on TPIX official website.
For application procedures, quotations, and technical support, please click here.
