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Connecting to

NCL-IX

NCL-IX is at the Centre of the UK's New Data Meridian.

Connecting to NCL-IX

NCL-IX is operated as a neutral not-for-profit IXP open to any network that can meet the technical requirements and physically reach one of our PoPs (Points of Presence). Any questions or queries about connection and the process can be emailed to info@ncl-ix.uk.

NCL-IX currently has two resiliently connected points of presence:

  • Telco-Room North, Stellium 1, 9 Cobalt Park Way, Cobalt Business Park, Tyne & Wear, NE28 9EJ, UK.
  • Telco-Room South, Stellium 1, 9 Cobalt Park Way, Cobalt Business Park, Tyne & Wear, NE28 9EJ, UK.

A 1Gb and/or 10Gb connection into either or both PoPs above are free of charge until January 2024.

NCL-IX supports connections to the above PoPs at speeds of 1Gbps, 10Gbps and 100Gbps. The following connection types are supported:

  • 1Gbps links via single-mode LX connections.
  • 10Gbps links via single-mode LR connections.
  • 100Gbps links via single-mode LR4 connections.
  • Longer distance optics (EX/ZX/ER/ZR) are also supported for an additional once off fee.
  • Coloured optics for terminating DWDM wavelength can also be supported for an additional once off fee.

Technical Requirements

NCL-IX operates a secure layer2 peering platform and conforms to all industry best-practices including the use of IXP Manager and implementation of MANRS IXP requirements.

Any network connecting to NCL-IX must meet the following technical requirements. New connections and changes to connected devices will be required to undergo a quarantine process so we can validate the following.

  • Frames forwarded to IXP ports shall have one of the following ether-types:
    • 0x0800 - IPv4
    • 0x0806 - ARP
    • 0x86dd - IPv6
  • One MAC address per port - frames received from an attached member device shall all have the same source MAC address. We use L2 ACLs to enforce this requirement.
  • Frames received from an attached member device shall not be addressed to a multicast or broadcast MAC destination address except as follows:
    • broadcast ARP packets
    • multicast IPv6 Neighbour Solicitation packets
  • No link local protocols with the exception of link aggregation control protocols (LACP) such as IEEE 802.3ad.
  • Interfaces connected to IXP peering LAN ports shall only use IP addresses and netmasks assigned to them by the NCL-IX.
  • IPv6 addresses (link & global scope) shall be explicitly configured and not auto-configured.
  • IPv6 site-local addresses shall not be used.
  • Members must not use NCL-IX to exchange traffic between their own connections without permission.
  • Members must have a public AS number issued by a RIR and routable IP space.