Benefits of the NoX

Members of the NoX gain access to advanced networking services including:

Internet2 R&E

Advanced Layer 3 Service extends Internet2's IP Network to its member institutions to deliver a strategic advantage for leaders in research and education (R&E). We participate in a community based operations system with constant collaborative evaluation and optimization. The Advanced Layer 3 Service offers leading edge network characteristics to meet the constantly evolving needs of high-speed research and collaboration.

 

Internet2 AL2S

The Northern Crossroads extends Internet2’s Advanced Layer 2 Service Advanced Layer 2 Service (AL2S) directly to it’s members, delivers a strategic advantage for leaders in research and education (R&E) by providing effective and efficient wide area 100G Ethernet technology. AL2S allows users to create their own VLANs on the Internet2 AL2S backbone. Static or Dynamic, point-to-point or multipoint, intra-domain or inter-domain, AL2S puts control of the backbone VLANs into the users' hands for the creation of purpose-built private circuits using infrastructure already in place.

Below Borrowed from Internet2:

Internet2 AL2S Topology

Some features of Internet2's Advanced Layer 2 Service are:

  • STATIC VLANs: point-to-point or multipoint, configured on demand by the user through a portal. Please see here for more details.
  • DYNAMIC VLANs: point-to-point or multipoint. The option to configure VLANs dynamically on demand by the user through a portal. Please see here for more details.
  • INTERDOMAIN CONNECTIVITY: global R&E and Global Optical Lightpath Exchange fabrics enable Ethernet VLANs throughout the U.S. on Internet2 and around the world through partner networks to intercommunicate.

Links to an Advanced Layer 2 Network map and Infosheet can be found in the box to the right.

A link to documentation, presentations, and copies of slides and recordings of webinars can be found here.

A list of organizations connected to AL2S at both 100GE and 10GE is available here.

 

 

LHCone

The Northern Crossroads maintains a 100GigE link to MANLAN in NYC for peering opportunates but most importantly for connectivity to LHC for our member.  Members are encouraged to work directly with LHC but to include us in the planning stages to ensure that connectivity is properly established.  For further information, please contact us with any questions.

 

Internet2 CPS

The NoX’s Commercial Peering Service provides the no-fee option for utilizing Internet2’s TR-CPS service with a bandwidth subscription. This provides strategic connectivity to portions of the public Internet and peering relationships through over 80 select entities. NoX members have commercial traffic needs, too, and Internet2's commercial peering service offers a low cost path with higher performance goals than commercial alternatives. TR-CPS provides high performance, low latency, and efficient (1 hop) access to some of the top content destinations in the world including: Google, Yahoo, NetFlix, and other commercial content providers. The service supports IPv4, IPv6 and multicast and allows members to leverage their existing Internet2 Network connection investment to help serve their commercial Internet needs, with substantial savings on commodity Internet charges.

 

Content Caches

 NoX has been actively working to bring in on premise caches from top providers.

  • Akamai
  • Facebook
  • Netflix
  • Verisign

 

 

Direct Peering

The Northern Crossroads has been actively working to establish directing bi-lateral peerings with top providers whether by direct circuits or via internet exchange points.  Below is a quick list of our most recent peerings:

Direct Peerings :
  • Apple (2x 100G)
  • Comcast (2x10G)
  • RCN (2x10G)
  • VermonTel (10G)
  • Google (100G)

Internet Exchanges :

  • Mass-IX
  • Boston-IX
  • Akamai
  • Amazon
  • CloudFlare
  • Coresite
  • Hurricane Electric
  • Microsoft
  • Netflix
  • Packet Clearing House
  • TOWARDEX
  • Verizon Edgecast
  • Yahoo

 

 

Advanced Routing Core

with 100G capable Cisco ASR9010 and Nexus7710 platforms the Northern Crossroads provides cost effective 100G connectivity to our members.  Details on our progress with the complete upgrade process, including the optical hardware are shown on the project dashboard page. Please use the contact page on this site if you have any questions or comments.

 

AWS DirectConnect Access

"AWS Direct Connect makes it easy to establish a dedicated network connection from your premises to AWS.  Using AWS Direct Connect, you can establish private connectivity between AWS and your datacenter, office, or colocation environment, which in many cases can reduce your network costs, increase bandwidth throughput, and provide a more consistent network experience than Internet-based connections. "  From AWS Amazon

The Northern Crossroads currently has 2x10GigE links to Amazon's AWS Direct Connect in NYC.  Further details on how members can utilze these connections can be found within the Members Section.  Please use the contact page on this site if you have any questions or comments.