On properties of internet exchange points and their impact on as topology and relationship

Abstract

Internet eXchange Points (IXPs) are one of two primary methods for Autonomous Systems (ASes) to interconnect with each other for exchanging traffic and for global Internet reachability. This paper explores the properties of IXPs and their impact on the AS topology and AS business relations using Scriptroute and Skitter traceroute probes, BGP routing archives and other data. With these datasets we develop an algorithm to discover IXPs and infer ASes that participate at these IXPs. Using the discovered IXPs and their inferred AS participants, we analyze and characterize the properties of IXPs and their participants such as size, geographical locations. We also investigate the impact of IXPs on the global AS topology and business relations between ASes. Our study sheds light on the Internet interconnection practices and the evolution of the Internet, in particular, the potential role IXPs play in such evolution. © IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 2004.