Global Internet Exchange Leaders Develop Universal API
Today at EPF (European Peering Forum) taking place in Tallinn, Estonia, it was announced that the world’s leading Internet Exchange operators AMS-IX (Amsterdam), DE-CIX (Frankfurt) and LINX (London) have joined forces to develop a common Application Programming Interface (API) to provision and configure interconnection services. This so-called IX-API will improve productivity for their members, customers and partners alike. It allows users to self-manage their existing and new interconnection services such as peering more effectively, from ordering new ports to monitoring provisioning processes.
The consortium of the three Internet Exchanges also called on common member and connectivity partner Epsilon and data centre partner Interxion to act as pilot customers for the new software. Both partners’ tests came out with positive results and they will be joining the exchanges at the European Peering Forum (EPF) to present and demonstrate the tool to the rest of the Internet and telecommunications community.
Richard Petrie, Chief Technology Officer for LINX adds;
“Our software and engineering teams have collaborated, working hard to create this modern RESTful API based on OpenAPI Specification v3 for managing IXPs customers and services.”
Dr Thomas King, Chief Technology Officer at DE-CIX says;
“DE-CIX ambition has always been to make customers life easier and connect them anywhere needed on the planet. Therefore, we are pleased to have come together with our partners to create this IX-API from scratch. We are convinced that this new industry standard will be adopted by other Internet Exchanges and interconnection providers.”
Henk Steenman, Chief Technology Officer for AMS-IX says;
“At AMS-IX, we are very proud that the three largest exchanges join forces, collaborate and have reached consensus to deliver the common IX-API project. In a very competitive market, we have found a common ambition and drive for the greater good of the internet.”
There is a large percentage of member and customer crossover between all three exchanges, working with the same remote peering partners and data centres. Being able to work with and offer out to the community, a universal API tool is a huge step forward for the industry. Find out more about the IX-API collaboration project here: www.ix-api.net
Photograph to the left shows from left to right: Henk Steenman, CTO AMS-IX, Thomas King, CTO DE-CIX, Richard Petrie, CTO LINX as they prepare for their presentation at the European Peering Forum.
Photograph above shows the IX teams being joined by members of the team from Epsilon and Interxion as they conduct their live demonstrations of the tool at EPF14 in Tallinn on 17th September.