Network, CIFNet / AS14585

CIFNet is known to the Internet community as AS14585 and is connected to AboveNet (AS6461), NTT (AS2914), and Savvis (AS3561). Additionally, AS14585 peers at the Any2 Internet Exchange of CoreSite (formerly CRG West). Further, we have agreements with multiple prospective carriers to provide additional capacity.

CIFNet engineers have specifically chosen industry’s top IP carriers. All IP carriers were selected based on the following criteria:

1. Network availability is based on the actual network outages and preventive / emergency maintenances that may potentially impact our network. While some carriers simply lack the ability to notify their customers in advance of service related outages and maintenances, our carriers always proactively notify CIFNet of any issues.

2. POP diversity. Our carriers’ Network Points of Presence (POP) are located throughout Chicago. While Savvis has a local POP in the building, both NTT and AboveNet are riding on separate transport links to geographically distinct locations. This ensures that the latter two will not be simultaneously unavailable.

3. Carrier’s backbone redundancy – some backbone operators only claim to have redundant backbones. All of our three carriers: AboveNet, NTT, and Savvis have completely fault-tolerant backbone networks. What’s also important is that historically none of the major fiber cuts across one operator’s backbone has affected the other, thus providing unparallel level of availability for CIFNet.

4. Non-oversubscribed bandwidth – this includes both on-net, backbone network and peering interconnections.

5. Line-rate performance – meaning that each backbone device will carry our traffic without breaking a sweat. Some carriers may claim to sell a full GigE, but their gear will “burn out” at 500-750Mbps (that’s ½ to ¾ of a full GigE)

6. BGP communities – we prefer to have influence over not only our outbound traffic (going out of AS14585/CIFNet), but also inbound (flowing into our network). All three carriers provide a set of powerful BGP4 communities allowing us to control our inbound traffic.

7. Peering – each backbone operator has a worldwide presence to interconnect with various parties including other Tier 1 networks, regional, content, educational, and broadband networks. Having all kinds of peering partners gives us unparallel level of connectivity to other networks with fewer third parties in between. But that’s not all -- we do not purchase transit from carriers that start the so-called peering wars.

8. Financial stability – we prefer to develop long-term relationships with our partners. Dealing with well-established parties that aren’t going to disappear overnight is a good way to conduct long-term business.

· For redundancy, AS14585/CIFNet network consists of two (2) core routers (border1 & border2). Both are Cisco 6500 series. Each core is connected via separate GigE connections to our transit providers or peering partners. As the need for additional redundancy arises, we add more core routers.

· We utilize 3560-series and similar Cisco switches for co-location and dedicated server customers. We call this type of network device the edge. For redundancy and route diversity, each edge is connected via at least two (2) separate GigE connections to our core routers.

· Please note that the number of devices on the diagram is for the presentational purposes only. We add additional devices as the need for additional port capacity arises.

· CIFNet utilizes effective, but simple techniques to calculate the best [routing] path, as well as the best next alternatives to the top 50 or so ASNs. It based on the latency, jitter, number of ASNs in the path between CIFNet‘s AS14585 and the destination, as well as the origin of the route. It’s not much different from the default BGP path selection, except for continuous testing and adjustments to optimize performance.

· Whatever your needs may be, CIFNet will meet and exceed your most demanding requirements.