The Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is the backbone of internet routing, enabling autonomous systems (ASes) to exchange routing information and determine the paths that data takes across the global network. However, BGP was designed in an era when trust among network operators was assumed, and its inherent lack of security mechanisms has made it vulnerable…

Transit providers play a critical role in the operation of the internet, acting as intermediaries that connect networks to the broader internet ecosystem. By purchasing transit services, networks gain access to routes that reach the global internet, ensuring that their traffic can traverse multiple autonomous systems (ASes) to reach its destination. Selecting and managing transit…

Network automation has become a cornerstone of modern domain infrastructure, transforming the way networks are designed, managed, and operated. As the demands on domain infrastructure grow, driven by the increasing complexity of services, user expectations for high availability, and the proliferation of internet-connected devices, manual network management has become inefficient and error-prone. Automation addresses these…

Community-based routing policies represent a collaborative and dynamic approach to managing internet traffic across interconnected networks. These policies leverage the flexibility of BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) communities to enable network operators to define and enforce sophisticated routing behaviors. By sharing routing preferences, restrictions, and intentions through the use of community tags, networks can achieve improved…

Load balancing and BGP failover are two distinct yet complementary techniques used in network routing and infrastructure management to ensure high availability, reliability, and optimal performance. Each approach addresses specific challenges in managing traffic flows, and understanding their differences, strengths, and limitations is critical for designing robust networks. While both aim to maintain seamless connectivity…

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) are vital components of the internet’s infrastructure, providing a centralized location for networks to exchange traffic efficiently. At the heart of many IXPs are route servers, a crucial technology that simplifies and optimizes the process of interconnection among participating networks. Route servers streamline the exchange of routing information, enabling participants to…

DNS forwarding and resolver peering are critical components of the Domain Name System (DNS) architecture, offering enhanced efficiency, scalability, and flexibility for DNS resolution. These mechanisms enable DNS servers to cooperate and optimize query handling, reducing latency and improving the reliability of domain name resolution. Understanding how DNS forwarding and resolver peering work, as well…

The routing infrastructure of the internet is a critical component of global connectivity, enabling the seamless exchange of data across billions of devices and networks. At its core, routing infrastructure relies on protocols like the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) to manage the flow of traffic between autonomous systems (ASes). While the system has proven remarkably…

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) are a cornerstone of modern internet infrastructure, designed to improve the speed, reliability, and scalability of content delivery to users across the globe. CDNs achieve this by distributing content across a network of strategically located servers, ensuring that data is delivered from the nearest or most optimal location to the end…

The Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) has served as the backbone of internet routing for decades, enabling autonomous systems (ASes) to exchange routing information and maintain global connectivity. While BGP has proven its robustness and scalability over time, its limitations have become increasingly evident as the internet evolves. Issues such as slow convergence, lack of inherent…