Your BNIX interconnection
As a reminder, an internet exchange point (IXP) operates based on the principle of interconnection and peering. As a BNIX (Belgian National Internet eXchange) Participant, you must have at least one active peering relationship. Participants that wish to set up peering between themselves subscribe to a bilateral peering contract, with no BNIX involvement.
Connections and data traffic
Direct connections between Participants are allowed, with no limits. In principle, the data traffic goes directly through these connections, but it can also transit via the BNIX.
Connection speeds
The BNIX offers you the following connection and ports to its switches:
- 100 Mbit/s (UTP)
- 1 Gigabit Ethernet (SX ou LX)
- 10 Gigabit Ethernet (LR ou ER)
- 100 Gigabit Ethernet (LR)
Customised Ethernet, VLAN and IP
BNIX employees adapt your BNIX connection to your needs and give you advice to optimise your interconnection concerning:
- the group of Ethernet connections (Etherchannel/PortChannel);
- the choice between two VLANs: unicast and multicast;
- IPv4 and IPv6 support.
BNIX services do not include VLAN installation for the private interconnection between Participants.
IPv4 and IPV6 Protocols
The BNIX works with the IPv4 Internet protocol and the IPv6 protocol. You can configure IPv6 in two ways:
- by using a specific IPv6 port;
- by configuring IPv4 and IPv6 on the same port (dual stacking) in the VLAN for unicast and/or multicast.
Unicast and Multicast
Unicast means a separate data transfer for each user. Multicast is a simultaneous transfer of information to several recipients. Each IP packet is sent once. It is only duplicated if it is really necessary to reach the final destination.
Multicast therefore alleviates the use of network capacity, which is especially important for applications requiring a wide bandwidth such as audio and video streaming in real time. Multicast requires additional protocols. You can request an Ethernet/FastEthernet multicast port on the BNIX multicast VLAN, at no additional cost.
Assistance
- Service Desk and Network Operation Centre (NOC) 24/7.
- Hardware support available 24/7 for BNIX switches
- Technical advice
5 immediate benefits from joining BNIX
Increased reliability
Your organisation can exchange IP traffic with several Internet service providers. If there is a technical problem with one of them, you have alternatives. You can also negotiate conditions relating to a connection that will only serve as back-up.
Reduce transit costs
You improve the efficiency of your network by choosing a direct data exchange with BNIX Participants. You can agree that the direct exchange of data with other BNIX participants is free, and reduce your costs this way. Transit traffic to other networks is allowed.
Faster traffic
A direct connection reduces the number of intermediary stages (“hops”) on the route between two connected BNIX participants.
High transfer capacity
The BNIX provides high capacity LAN connections, which enables you to send large data volumes easily to a large number of end users.
Inexpensive connections
As BNIX services are based on LAN technology, the price of the bandwidth is low.
