Introduction


In this research, we are investigating how we can use the Internet IXP datasets to understand how those entities and their participants (AS nodes) are distributed and being used in the Internet. Some of the questions related to this research:

  • How are the ASes peering in the internet?
  • Who are the main internet IXPs?
  • How are ASes peering: to one or n IXPs?
  • What is the distribution of peering degree today?
  • Where are the main peering elements?
  • How can we use visual tools to find good peering options for a given AS?

For the following maps, we combined 3 IXP datasets (Euro-IX, peeringDB and PCH) with information of IXPs and participants ASes.

1. IXPs and participants ASes


Nodes are IXPs and the participants ASes in the peering infrastructure. In this first scenario, an AS (using an unique identification) only connects to it's IXP. An AS with connections to multiple IXPs will be shown repeatedly in the map (one id per IXP cluster).
Dot file related: The cluster is the IXP-ID.

What can we see in this map?

  • How many ASes each IXP is connected to: large and small IXPs
  • Which IXPs have no information in the datasets or are inactive (represented as a small country with one IXP node)

Graph
Map with K-means
Map with Infomap
Gmap site did not create one.

2. IXPs and participants ASes (ASes connected to multiple IXPs in the map)


In this scenario, an AS (id=ASN) may connect to one or more IXP.
Dot file related:The cluster is the IXP-ID.

What can we see in this map?

  • Which IXP countries are in the middle of the map: connections between ASes to multiple IXPs bring IXP countries together
  • Which countries are in the periphery of the map: IXPs with ASes not connected to multiple IXPs or a few.

Graph
Map with K-means
Map with Infomap

3. IXPs and participants ASes (Cluster = Country)


In this scenario, an AS (id=ASN) may connect to one or more IXPs.
Dot file related:The cluster is the IXP's Country.

What can we see in this map?

  • Which clusters (by country) have more IXPs
  • Which clusters (by country) are in the middle or periphery of the map: countries contain IXPs with ASes peering with IXPs in the same country or other countries?
Graph
Map with K-means
Map with Infomap

4. Country nodes, IXPs and participants ASes


In this scenario, an AS (id=ASN) may connect to one or more IXP-ID. Each IXP is connected to a Country node (one IXP connects to one Country).
Dot file related:The cluster is the IXP's Country.

What can we see in this map?

  • Which countries are in the middle or periphery of the map
  • Which countries have more IXPs with no ASes
  • Which are the most important countries in the IXP business level
Graph
Map with K-means
Map with Infomap
Questions about Gmap
  • Can we increase the number of clusters?
  • INFOMAP: GMap did not create a map for it. It killed the process.
  • INFOMAP: Why is this clustering option creating the vertical clustering in the middle? It can be seen since map 2

@thienne johnson - 2015