What is a cross-connect in a data center?

A cross-connect is a physical cable connection between two different networks or network devices within a carrier hotel or data center. It typically runs through the meet-me room and allows direct, private data exchange between tenants without traversing the public Internet.

What is peering vs transit?

Peering is a mutual arrangement where two networks exchange traffic directly, typically without payment, because the traffic flow benefits both. Transit is a paid service where one network pays another to carry its traffic to destinations it cannot reach directly. Peering happens at internet exchange points; transit is purchased from upstream providers.

What is an autonomous system (AS) number?

An autonomous system (AS) number is a unique identifier assigned to a network that has its own routing policy on the Internet. AS numbers are used in the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) to identify networks and determine how traffic is routed between them. Every network that peers at an IXP has its own AS number.