First Nations Internet Exchange

IXP Portal

FNIX Policy for Users and Organizations

The Internet Exchange Point is physically located in various sites in the shared  territories of the  xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ(Tsleil-Waututh).    

The following Policy is a foundation for requirments and details to join the FNIX Exchange.  

1. Requirements:

a. An Autonomous System Number (ASN). At this time we are only accepting Peers with registered ASNs – that is, assigned by one of the Regional Internet Registries (RIR – one of ARIN, LACNIC, RIPE, AFRINIC or APNIC)

b. RIR assigned address space. Again, at this time we can only accept Peers who have assigned address space, IPv4 and/or IPv6

c. Authorization from the RIR Administrative contact for your Organization to participate in the Exchange

d. A Router running BGP4. This goes without saying, but there, we’ve said it.

e. Lastly, a cable connecting the above router to a switch operated by FNIX, at one of our approved Locations, Extensions, or Remotes

2. Locations: You can connect to FNIX at multiple places, once operational:

a. Core switch at Carrier Connect Systems, Spencer Data Centre, 803 – 515 West Hastings St. Vancouver

b. Core switch at Morewave Communications, Cologix VAN2 1050 West Pender St, Vancouver

c. At the discretion of the Board, and on recommendation of the appropriate Sub-committee thereof, FNIX may designate an Extension to the switch fabric. Extension proposals may be submitted to the board for consideration. Each proposal will be judged on its own merit. An Extension switch is directly connected to a Core FNIX switch.

d. A Remote Fabric is a switch operated by FNIX (or by a local society according to rules set out by FNIX) that has the full support of the First Nations Internet Exchange Society, but is not directly connected to the core FNIX switches, and is not an Extension.

3. Donations and Fees:

a. There are no fees to connect to the Exchange – however each Peer, and the Exchange in general, is expected to be self-supporting. This means that expansion will only take place if it can be sustained, and operations that require on-going expenses, even the Core switching, will be terminated if donations are not received to cover them.

b. You will be expected to provide a donation to the Exchange to cover the costs of connecting (manpower, transceivers, etc). You will also be asked to contribute to the operations of the Exchange by donations or in kind (i.e. space and power). However, if your circumstances preclude monetary donations you may apply to have these costs covered by community contributions. You may also be a Peer whom the community identifies as a Worthwhile Peer, but this is very rare.

c. FNIX is a volunteer run organization, however this means that not everything is going to get done when you want it to. Fees may be charged by other organizations to provide services to you that cannot be provided by the volunteers, if you request it. These organizations might be able to offer service level assurances but FNIX cannot. This includes any and all cables connecting you to the Exchange.

4. Rules – or rather Suggested Practices

a. FNIX will be following Best Current Practices for the operation of a Public Internet Exchange. Because FNIX is a “teaching Exchange”, this will be provided in a separate URL and updated regularly, with full documentation about how to follow it and how to enforce it.

b. At a minimum, it is understood that Peering takes places between private Peers, and not with the Exchange itself, with the exception of the Route Servers, which will enforce MANRS principles. (see above BGP Document, when published)