An IXP (Internet Exchange Point) is a location with a shared Ethernet switching fabric where ISPs, content providers and enterprises connect and peer with one another using BGP.
Why it matters
By exchanging traffic locally, IXPs cut latency, reduce transit costs and keep domestic traffic inside a country or region. A network connects once to the exchange and can peer with many members. Large ones carry enormous volumes, and they improve resilience because there are more alternative paths when a link fails.
Example
ISP A --
CDN B ---[ IXP switch ]--- bilateral or route-server peering with BGP
Host C --A CDN and a local ISP that both join the same exchange can send each other traffic across one cross-connect rather than through an upstream carrier.
Common mistakes
- Believing joining an IXP automatically provides peering. Sessions still have to be agreed or established through a route server.
- Ignoring port capacity and letting links saturate.
- Confusing an IXP with a data center. Many IXPs are located in several.
Related
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