RFC 10005: BGP Community for link capacity

RFC 10005 defines a BGP extended community that lets a router attach link bandwidth information to a route. Another router can use that value when it spreads traffic across multiple BGP paths. RFC 10005 matters because links are not always of the same capacity. This RFC provides routers with a standard way to carry bandwidth … Read more

George Washington, the Delaware, and Direct Routes

I originally posted this over on the FD-IX Bloghttps://blog.fd-ix.com/george-washington-the-delaware-and-direct-routes/ When George Washington crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night in 1776, the goal was simple. Reach the objective by the most effective path while avoiding unnecessary delays and giving the opposing force as little warning as possible. The crossing was risky, but it created a … Read more

Understanding Leaf and Spine Switching in Modern Data Centers

leaf and spine

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 northbound through specific devices. A leaf and spine fabric flattens that design so every leaf … Read more

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?

Interconnection

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.

Why Every ISP Should Have a PeeringDB Listing, Even If They’re Not in a Data Center

Interconnection

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, even if you never set foot in a carrier hotel, IXP, or meet-me room. Your … Read more