Introduction
The UIXP offers a Route Server service to help networks automate the peering process. Traditionally, at an Internet exchange point (IXP), network operators manually configure bilateral BGP sessions with other networks. However, this can be laborious and impractical when dealing with a large number of networks. Our Route Server service helps to address this problem. Networks can establish a BGP session with our Route Servers to automatically establish BGP sessions with other networks that use the service. This facilitates peering and significantly reduces network management overhead.
Technical Details
We currently operate two virtual BIRD route servers hosted on separate physical hardware:
| Route Server #1 | Route Server #2 |
| ASN: 37386 | ASN: 37386 |
| IPv4: 196.223.25.11 | IPv4: 196.223.25.12 |
| IPv6: 2001:43F8:0130::11 | IPv6: 2001:43F8:0130::12 |
BGP Communities
Our Route Servers allow network operators to implement selective peering policies by way of the following BGP Communities:
| Standard Communities | Community |
| Prevent announcement of a prefix to a specific peer | 0:peer-as |
| Prevent announcement of a prefix to all peers | 0:37386 |
| Announce a route to a specific peer | 37386:peer-as |
| Announce a route to all peers | 37386:37386 |
| Large Communities | Community |
| Prevent announcement of a prefix to a specific peer | 37386:0:peer-as |
| Prevent announcement of a prefix to all peers | 37386:0:0 |
| Announce a route to a specific peer | 37386:1:peer-as |
| Announce a route to all peers | 37386:1:0 |
| Large Communities for Prepending | Community |
| Prepend to peer AS once | 37386:101:peer-as |
| Prepend to peer AS twice | 37386:102:peer-as |
| Prepend to peer AS three times | 37386:103:peer-as |
Important Notes
- IPv4 prefixes announced to the Route Servers must be at least /24 or larger.
- IPv6 prefixes announced to the Route Servers must be at least /64 or larger.
- Route Servers only relay prefix announcements, and do not carry or forward any traffic between networks. They do not join the AS-PATH.
Troubleshooting
We host a Looking Glass system in order to help network operators diagnose technical issues related to the Route Servers. It shows BGP session information, prefix announcements, and other data for all networks that use the service. The Looking Glass can be accessed via the following link: https://portal.uixp.co.ug/lg