A GIX architecture

A GIX is mainly made up of a star based distributed system on an Ethernet switch, controlled and administrated by management systems, on which ISPs connect themselves, in 2 possible ways:

• by a LAN, via a router
• by a MAN/WAN, directly on the switch

Explanation :
When a ISP wishes to forward information via a GIX, it builds a physical connection between its routers and servers and the GIX's switch. If the routing is done directly between the switch and its communication central, it is said that it is a WAN (Wide Area Network). If the ISP is connected to the GIX by bringing a router on the premises, it is only LAN (Local Area Network).

At the level of the routers and management systems of the GIX, the ISPs exchange addresses according to an exchange protocol (peering). Thus, each ISP knows to which ISP it can orientate itself when a query arrives: the exchange of information is done directly via the switch. The tables recording the input/output pairs (IP addresses) between operators constitute what one calls the peering matrix.