Skyline IX Policies & Guidelines

Introduction

Skyline IX is operated by CYBERJET PTE. LTD. and is located in Tokyo, Japan. Skyline IX is NOT a transit provider; instead, it is a layer-two settlement-free Internet exchange point primarily for routing of intra-Japan Internet traffic. However, Skyline IX can also be used for routing of Internet traffic between the networks in Japan and the networks or downstream networks of Skyline IX participants in other countries. The peering model of Skyline IX is a SKA (Sender Keep All) peering model.

In order to join Skyline IX, the participant needs to fulfill the requirements and agree to the policies and guidelines listed below.

Requirements for Participants to Join Skyline IX

All of the following must be satisfied before a connection is provisioned.

1. Participants should have primary global Internet connectivity independent of Skyline IX facilities.
2. Participants should be able to exchange routing tables (or peer) with the route server set up by Skyline IX using Border Gateway Protocol version 4 (BGP4).
3. In addition to running BGP4 to peer with the Skyline IX route server, participants need to run BGP4 to peer with their upstream / peer / downstream providers. This is for better management of routing. (AS numbers need to be obtained from a Regional Internet Registry. If they are single-homed, their upstream providers need only send a BGP default route to them.)
4. Participants must be self-sufficient. For example, they should have their own primary DNS, Email, WWW and News servers.
5. The connections of participants to Skyline IX must be 1 Gbps or above.
6. The data links to Skyline IX MUST be provided by the participants.

Policies & Guidelines

If an organisation is interested in joining, it needs to fulfill the above requirements and acknowledge acceptance of the following Skyline IX policies and guidelines.

Peering

1. Skyline IX is a layer-two Internet exchange point over Ethernet. All participants connecting to Skyline IX exchange data via Ethernet, which is a layer-two technology. All routers on the Ethernet exchange routing information with the route servers set up by Skyline IX using BGP4.
2. Skyline IX is a settlement-free interconnection point. No settlement needs to be paid by the peering participants for incoming and outgoing traffic.
3. The main purpose of Skyline IX is the routing of intra-Japan traffic, but it is acceptable if participants allow others to exchange traffic with their networks or downstream networks in other countries free of charge.
4. All participants should not filter traffic or routing table entries to or from any other participant unless it is justifiable.
5. Skyline IX has set up route servers for peering; participants must peer with these servers. Participants can also peer with other participants directly, as long as the arrangement does not violate any of the policies and guidelines stated here.
6. All participants of Skyline IX are considered equal. All Skyline IX participants must peer with one another via the route servers.
7. Each participant must be an Autonomous System (AS) by itself with a globally unique AS number assigned by ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC, AFRINIC or their sub-registries.
8. The source addresses of the data traversing Skyline IX must be officially assigned by ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC, AFRINIC or their sub-registries.

Connectivity

1. Each participant MUST have its own global Internet connectivity through other Internet access provider(s) independent of Skyline IX facilities.
2. The connection to Skyline IX MUST NOT be used as the primary connection to the global Internet. The key point is that if the link to Skyline IX, or Skyline IX itself, is down, connectivity should still be maintained.
3. The Tokyo site is the primary site of Skyline IX; participants with a single connection (data link) to Skyline IX should connect to the primary site of Skyline IX.
4. Should Skyline IX have secondary site(s), participants may add additional data link(s) to the secondary site(s) for redundancy or load balancing purposes, subject to the approval of Skyline IX.

Liability

1. Each participant connecting to Skyline IX should take all necessary precautions to assure that abuse of network resources — both that of Skyline IX and of its peers — does not occur.
2. Participants must arrange suitable insurance to cover their equipment while it is within Skyline IX racks. Insurance must include adequate cover for third party liability in the event of the participant's equipment causing damage to Skyline IX, other participants, or third party staff or equipment. Skyline IX may demand, and the participant must provide, proof of adequate relevant insurance cover to the satisfaction of Skyline IX.
3. Skyline IX and CYBERJET PTE. LTD. will not be responsible for any loss or damages to participants caused by the operations of Skyline IX or its participants.
4. Skyline IX and CYBERJET PTE. LTD. will not be responsible for any illegal activities performed by any of its participants.

Disconnection