The QIX
Further Information
QIX Participants (as of Febuary 2009)
At RISQ's initiative, several Quebec Internet service providers joined forces in 1995 to optimize the speed of communications province-wide. This was the beginning of the QIX (Quebec Internet Exchange), a neutral space where Quebec carriers exchange their routing tables and their traffic. Worldwide, there are now almost 150 similar exchanges in 53 countries.
Topology
A unique feature of IP is that it sends packets to their destination by the shortest or the fastest route; that being the case, QIX allows Quebec Internet traffic to stay in Quebec, without having to be routed through New York, Toronto or Chicago.
The QIX consists of a switch connected to two rackmount servers that act as routing servers. Participating carriers link their networks to this setup with an adequate link.
Benefits
The fewer "hops" (routers and switches) traffic requires, the faster it travels; this means that a major benefit of the QIX is that it allows RISQ members to communicate with home-based students using the cheapest, most direct path possible. This creates continuity between classroom teaching and individual learning, and promotes distance-learning activities. A similar benefit is reaped by RISQ members' employees and partners, who gain the advantages of low-latency paths.
Second, local routing exchanges help reduce the amount of traffic sent to the rest of Canada and to other countries. As a consequence, the links connecting participating providers to inter-regional and international exchange points are available for truly useful traffic. Most Quebec Internet users thus benefit from more fluid, stable and fast connections with the rest of the world.
Admissibilité
Every Internet Service Provider is admissible to the QIX; however, providers undertake to make all of their Quebec routes available to RISQ without limiting traffic and to respect routing criteria defined by RISQ. As a result, each provider must supply sufficient bandwidth to handle the traffic that will be sent to it by the QIX switch.
Other eligibility requirements are:
- To own and use an ASN (Autonomous System Number);
- To be a recognized Internet Service Provider (ISP);
- To provide an Ethernet connection (minimum 100 Mbps) at your own expense, with appropriate equipment in RISQ's computer room.
- To upgrade this connexion before it becomes saturated.
- To use a routing policy and to manage the routing tables in an IRR (Internet Routing Registry, e.g. RABD).
- To have your own Internet access (QIX is not an Internet access point).
- To share your local routes with RISQ.
Participants may also exchange routes with each other in accordance with any bilateral agreements they may have.
Cost
There are no ongoing fees for using the QIX. A connected carrier or provider is obliged only to maintain the physical link between its equipment and the central router. The financial adjustments that may be required as a result of unequal local traffic exchanges are to be settled mutually between the participants in question; QIX plays no role in this.
Warranty
The QIX is a free service. RISQ does not provide any performance or service warranty whatsoever. Service and technical support are provided on a best-efforts basis during regular business hours only.