IP Transit's role in facilitating Internet access for today's highly connected business environments is critical. Without reasonably priced, accessible IP Transit offerings, businesses in every imaginable sector would lose many of the efficiencies that are now the foundation of their current Information Technology plans. Given the proliferation of cloud-based business services, such as Office 365, and continued development of enhanced information technology services both on-premise and otherwise, access to reliable network resources through services such as IP Transit remain critical.
In our “What is IP Transit” article, we introduced IP Transit and how it facilitates data transfer across the Internet. We revealed how ISPs work in conjunction with each other to move that information. Here, we'll delve further into the technical aspects of IP Transit by exploring peering relationships and infrastructure access, as well as scalability and flexibility. We will then explore which industries stand to gain the most from its utilization.
Benefits of IP Transit
Since IP Transit refers to a process, many of its benefits will be related to how it's implemented. IP Transit has inherent advantages over other internet access methods due to the architecture used and the ISPs established relationships.
1. Superior Peering
It is said that a person can be judged by the company they keep. This axiom translates to peering, as well. By partnering with other ISPs and directly connecting to their networks, a provider reduces the number of steps (hops) it needs to access hosts on the partner network. For example, if a provider does not peer directly with the network associated with a destination, it would need to pass the request through a Tier 1 ISP to reach the destination. This less direct route will introduce more hops as IP packets transit additional Tier 1 and Tier 2 networks, increasing latency and reducing throughput. Purchasing IP Transit from an ISP with a strong peering network will eliminate these extra hops and the corresponding side effects.
Adaptive Data Networks has strengthened and diversified its network by peering directly with over 40 partners. Our expansive network includes large multi-national organizations like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Netflix and regional carriers like Frontier, Mediacom, and Metro-Net. We have strategically chosen these partners for their geographic locations and their points-of-presence within the largest Internet hubs in the U.S., and continue to seek new peering partners every day.
2. Direct Access to Infrastructure
IP Transit offers unique advantages to firms hosting their IT infrastructure with their transit provider. Due to the inherent design of an IP Transit service, applications and services hosted with the IP Transit provider are effectively integrated into a semblance of a local network, and thus achieve near-LAN transfer speeds. Unlike standard colocation or cloud service customers who access their hosted resources through onsite hardware or a client-side VPN, IP Transit customers are often able to utilize their provider's IP circuit and to bring LAN access to both local and remote infrastructure. This is facilitated by the industry standard 802.1Q VLAN Trunking Protocol.
Additionally, direct connectivity to the provider's core router enables a consistent experience across the organization's environments. When developers working in the corporate headquarters access hosted resources, they can expect that their experience mirrors that of their target audience. Utilizing IP Transit from your infrastructure provider, if available, assists in providing this experience.
Adaptive Data Networks' wide array of hosting options combined with our IP Transit service and unparalleled Adaptive Support allow your company seamless and reliable access to your infrastructure.
3. Redundant Connectivity
Typical business Internet access, such as Comcast Business cable, passes all traffic through a single physical connection. In contrast, IP Transit is structured to include multiple physical paths of access from the provider's network all the way to the customer's office. By using redundant connectivity, IP transit providers are less susceptible to the disruption of a single path. Enterprise switching is installed at the company's place of business and accepts multiple fiber lines that have been run to the location. These reductant fiber lines allow for instant failover should one connection cut out or deteriorate.
Providers are incentivized to maintain uptime as billing is contingent on both the bandwidth utilized by the customer, and their SLA. To ensure the IP Transit customers stay online, all components of the network have redundant systems or software in place to maintain network functionality. At Adaptive Data Networks , redundant Cisco Nexus 7K switches are employed as core switches enabling nearly 40Tb/s and multi-billion packet-per-second (PPS) workloads.
4. Routing Table Availability
A routing table is a data table stored in a router or a networked computer that lists the routes to network destinations, and is used to determine where data packets traveling over an IP network will be directed. IP Transit can be configured to provide customers with either a default internet route or a complete routing table that enables them to choose the best path (dynamic routing) to their destination. Standard business internet services only provide their customers with a default route – a single pathway to all networks on the internet. Implementing BGP routing on these legacy networks is either too costly, too technically difficult, or the provider is simply unwilling to add any routing complexity to their network. Default routes do not allow for any dynamic routing decisions to be applied and the customer cedes control of the path. Dynamic routing protocols combined with the use of multiple IP Transit providers can offer failover protection while simultaneously increasing the reliability of the network.
5. Customization and Scalability
Standard business Internet cannot be configured nor scale like IP Transit. With a standard business Internet plan, a provider-supplied router within the client's office or facility limits the maximum possible speed. All traffic needs to be processed onsite and the router will become the choke point. Opting for IP Transit eliminates this provider-supplied router which allows for connection flexibility and increased scalability. This also enables the customization of the circuit and the flexibility to implement additional networking technologies such as VPN, VPLS, MPLS, and 802.1Q (VLAN Trunking) in conjunction with the IP Transit provider.
Do I Need IP Transit?
The benefits IP Transit provide make it a logical choice for many industries:
Financial Services Firms can rely on the low-latency of fiber-based IP Transit service. Specialized cable routing, high-performance networking equipment, and route optimization techniques provide the throughput necessary for critical business transactions including data analytics, high frequency trading (HFT), and business Internet access.
To ensure delivery of critical cargo, Logistics Companies require precision, planning, and reliable connectivity. A global network guarantees constant access to tracking and shipment applications, GPS location data, inventory management, and staff augmentation tools.
Late night code deployments, repository access, or research and design require Technology Firms to rely on their direct and immediate access for both development and delivery purposes. IP Transit allows these firms to focus on their core business competencies while avoiding the pitfalls of engineering systems architecture.
Enterprises with Large Offices have unique needs when it comes to IT resources. The demands of 50+ users in a large office environment often requires more bandwidth for applications such as VoIP, streaming video, and cloud-based resources. If your IP Transit provider is well connected, direct peering with large SaaS providers will ensure the critical connectivity required for business.
Summary
IP Transit remains the gold standard of Internet and network connectivity. By providing direct access to peers and internal IT infrastructure, it offers speed, throughput, redundancy, and flexibility not generally available via other connectivity methods. Businesses can focus on operations and growth, confident in the internet access they've secured, rather than spend time worrying about future application requirements and technologies.
Adaptive Data Networks IP Transit service ensures that your business remains connected, with the lowest possible latency and highest levels of connectivity. This is achieved through our vast peering relationships, large internal network, and our Tier 1 provider relationships. Our SLA guarantees your uptime and offers world-class support by using best-in-class core routers, standard compliant switching, best practice network designs, and the latest software / protocols.
It is imperative that your IP Transit provider has robust offerings and reliable support that can scale with your company's growth. Our certified IT professionals draw from a wide range of networking, hosting, and consulting experience. Our mission is to provide you with the best service and resources that will meet and exceed your needs. You can learn more about our IP Transit Service or request more information about IP Transit.