Understanding Leaf and Spine Switching in Modern Data Centers
A leaf-and-spine design is a data center network topology that removes the traditional three-tier hierarchy and treats every path equally. Traditional three-tier networks build layers like access, distribution, and core. This structure creates choke points when traffic has to move …
Annatomy of a DDoS attack. When ports fill up
Identifying a DDoS attack requires an understanding of normal network behavior. In the left portion of the graph,
Whats in the box: Alta Labs Route10
The Alta Labs Route 10 is a clean, compact Route 10 built for people who care about throughput, simplicity, and not turning their rack into a space heater. Ten gig on tap, a tidy industrial design, and packaging that says “someone here sweats the details.”
What is an AS-SET?
An AS-SET is a collection of Autonomous System Numbers grouped under a single name. Rather than listing each ASN individually in your routing policy, you just refer to the set, and the routing registry handles the details. You can think of it like a mailing list for networks.
Packets Down Range #39: FD-IX, North Carolina, BGP
Welcome to the first Packets Down Range of 2026. Lots of things happening in the world on The Capital I Internet. So grab your multi-tool, fire up your terminal, and let’s head down range.
Why Every ISP Should Have a PeeringDB Listing, Even If They’re Not in a Data Center
Many Internet service providers believe PeeringDB is just for networks in large data centers. That belief sticks around like an old patch cable at the bottom of a toolbox. The reality is simpler: every ISP should have a PeeringDB entry, …
Alta Labs Route 10 adds dynamic routing
Add support for BGP and OSPF routing via frr (Settings->Networks->Routes->Dynamic Routing
Understanding the BGP Origin Code Attribute
When you check out a BGP route, you’ll notice several attributes that help routers decide which path to use. The Origin code is one of the simplest and is often overlooked
BGP: What is the no_export Community?
In this post, I will dive into what the no_export attribute is, how it works, and when you should use it.
Mikrotik RouterOS V7 BGP Template $15
The following is a Template for creating a BGP session with both a v6 and a v4 peer in Mikrotik RouterOS v7. It costs $15 for Patreon subscribers or $20 for everyone else.
Vendor Quirks & Common Pitfalls in BGP Configuration
In this post, I walk through some key quirks and common pitfalls you might encounter when configuring BGP on MikroTik RouterOS (v6 & v7), Cisco IOS, Juniper Junos, and Arista EOS.
Juniper BGP Configuration .set and templates for my Patreon Subscribers. Free Info Post
I have created a series of example configurations, a commented PDF, and a Juniper .set for configuring BGP on Juniper routers. This post is available for my Patreon folks here.