The Virt-IX logo was designed by Martijn Bakker

What is Virt-IX?

The Virtual Internet eXchange is a training platform where participants can familiarize themselves with modern internet technologies such as BGP4 and OSPF. Using tunneling, a virtual internet exchange is created, allowing participants to run routing protocols on a virtualized switch. This provides to opportunity to establish OSPF neighborships and BGP peerings. While the technique basically mimics Ethernet and thus should support IS-IS, RIP and other routing protocols, at this time the only supported protocols are BGP and OSPF. However, this does not prohibit participants from establishing their own private adjacensies.

Once admitted as a participant, you will be assigned a public routable /29 of IPv4 space. This /29 will be your responsibility. You need to make sure it is advertised to the rest of the world in order to maintain proper connectivity. In principle, no static routes are allowed. You can choose from OSPF or BGP, or a combination of the two.

Virt-IX was founded in 2002, when a group of internet enthousiasts started playing with the tunneling techniques. After almost 10 years, Virt-IX is still active with many participants.

At this time it is not possible to apply for membership: the current platform is invite-only. This is due to the huge responsibilities that come with operating publicly routed IP space. As there is always the likelyhood of a rogue participant abusing the assigned IP space for illegal purposes, we need at least two current participants to vouch for a new member. Therefor it is invite-only at this time. See this page for more information.

Sabri Berisha
Founder of Virt-IX