Hawai‘i About the HIX
HIX stands for Hawai‘i Internet eXchange (or Exchange). It is an exchange point where Hawai‘i based Government, Education and Research networks can route IP traffic directly to each other and other local networks without having to use (expensive) bandwidth on their respective upstream Internet links.
Benefits
Because packets are routed locally, network latency and costs are significantly reduced and the user experience is greatly enhanced. Since Hawai‘i is geographically isolated from the rest of the world, by keeping traffic local, the survivability of connectivity between Hawai‘i based networks in the event of circuit failures to the mainland is increased as well.
How did HIX start?
David Lassner of the University of Hawai‘i Information Technology Services (UH ITS) first proposed the idea in 1994. To stimulate and encourage participation, UH funded a router and a dedicated Frame-Relay access circuit for the initial project. The idea received much attention at the first ISOC-Hawai‘i meeting in mid 1995. The HIX became operational shortly thereafter.
In 2013 the University decided to un-commercialize the HIX and focus on Government, Education and Research Networks. Most (if not all) commercial local service providers were peering with the DRFortress IX at the DRFortess colocation site. The University decided that commercial local service providers would have a better service level by peering with DRFortress IX. The HIX continues to maintain a peering with the DRFortress IX to provide connectivity between the two exchanges..
Who, What and Where?
This HIX is currently comprised of two peering points in Honolulu. One is located at the UH ITS data center on the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa campus. The second is a colocated router at the DRFortess data center near the Honolulu Airport.
A Gigabit Ethernet circuit connects both routers. The DRFortess colocated router participates in the DRFxchange and peers with DRFortess customers. The Mānoa router peers with HIX members who have circuits terminating at UH Mānoa. Both routers have a complete view of the HIX routing table.
The HIX uses ASN 19035. All HIX administrative polices and routing policies are administered by the University of Hawai‘i ITS.
As of 2008, the HIX is now only accepting Ethernet connectivity at the Mānoa peering point. Peering at DRFortess must be done via Ethernet. Cross connect fees at DRFortress are the responsibility of the connecting party.
