Many autonomous systems peer only with one or several large autonomous systems run by large internet service providers (ISPs). This ensures that they can reach all other ASes that are connected to the internet, but doesn’t always provide optimal routes-​particularly for geographically proximate ASes. For example, two autonomous systems located in the same town might find that their traffic actually requires many additional hops if sent through a large ISP. It would be much more efficient for them to establish a direct connection with each other. Meet-me rooms or internet exchange points (IXPs) are places designed to enable these connections. Any interested AS in the Buffalo area, for example, could run a cable from their network to a meet-me room allowing them to connect (or peer) with many other local ASes.
Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).
Part of the www.internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (blue.cse.buffalo.edu) production.