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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I contact the SIX for non-urgent issues?
A: Email info _a_t_ seattleix.net.

Q: How do I contact SIX Network Operations?
A: For service-affecting problems, please email noc _a_t_ seattleix.net. For non-urgent issues please email info _a_t_ seattleix.net.

Q: Location?
A: The physical location (no postal mail!) is Westin Office Building, 19th floor, 2001 6th Avenue, Seattle. NPA-NXX is 206-443. The mailing address is Seattle Internet Exchange, Inc., 10115 Greenwood Ave. N., #294, Seattle, WA  98133-9197.

Q: Where do I go for an IPv4 address allocation or to change the reverse DNS for an existing address allocation?
A: To change your existing address allocation, email info _a_t_ seattleix.net. For new participants, once your connection is up, you can request an allocation by sending the following to info _a_t_ seattleix.net:

    Organization Name:
    Organization URL (or Peering Policy page if available):
    ASN:
    Reverse DNS FQDN: (ex. six.example.net)
    Tech Name:
    Tech Email:
    Tech Phone:
    NOC Phone:
    NOC Email:
    Peering Email:
    IPv6: (yes or no)
    Multicast: (yes or no)
    

Q: How about an IPv6 address?
A: Once you have an IPv4 address, your IPv6 address is 2001:0478:0180::[last-octet] where "last-octet" is the decimal equivalent of the last octet of your IPv4 198.32.180/24 allocation. For example: IPv4 198.32.180.254 corresponds to IPv6 2001:0478:0180::254 out of the 2001:0478:0180::/64 subnet.

Q: What connection types and speeds are available?
A: You can connect via single or multi-mode fiber. Available speeds are 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps. Please see http://www.seattleix.net/join.htm for more information.

Q: What is the cost of connecting to the SIX?
A: The SIX itself does not charge for connections but rather relies solely on contributions. The building management or your colocation provider will likely charge you for the cost of labor and materials for running a circuit to the SIX. If you prefer not to provide an SFP for your connection, you can send us $100 instead. 10GE participants need to provide their own XENPAK.

Q: What are the rules?
A: Please check out http://www.seattleix.net/rules.htm.

Q: Any tips on configuring my router?
A: The Amsterdam IX provides a helpful configuration guide for exchange point participants here. A variety of hardware is covered.

For Cisco hardware, one possible exception to their advice concerns disabling "keepalive". We recommend you evaluate for yourself whether this should be disabled or not. Some say the GigE standard makes it unnecessary. Otherwise, we suggest the following:

Globally:

    no ip gratuitous-arps

SIX-facing interface:

    no ip directed-broadcast
    no ip redirects
    no ip proxy-arp
    no cdp enable
    no mop enable
    ipv6 nd suppress-ra

Q: What is the organizational structure of the SIX.
A: The Seattle Internet Exchange, Inc. is a Washington State non-profit corporation. Our articles of incorporation, bylaws, and minutes of official meetings are available at http://www.seattleix.net/docs/.

Q: Who is on the SIX board and who are the officers?
A: Nikos Mouat (President), Jared Reimer (Vice President), Chris Caputo (Secretary/Treasurer), Troy Davis and Patrick Gilmore.

Q: What mailing lists are available for participants?
A: The mailing lists available are:

List name How to subscribe Purpose
announce announce-subscribe@seattleix.net Moderated announcements list for people who aren't on the members list but need to hear about important SIX related matters (maintenance, meetings, etc.) from the SIX admins. All messages to this list are automatically sent to the members list too, so no need to subscribe to both. Member to member communication should be done using the members list or your own private list of peers.
chat chat-subscribe@seattleix.net Optional list for participants to freely discuss Seattle Internet issues. Examples of acceptable discussion include: offers/requests for surplus equipment, sharing of tips/tricks, building gossip, etc.
members members-subscribe@seattleix.net Intended to be low volume so that all technical contacts remain subscribed. Notices of maintenance work, SIX organization discussion and upcoming meetings are appropriate for this list.
multicast multicast-subscribe@seattleix.net For discussion of multicast over the SIX.

Comments/corrections/suggestions/additions to webmaster at seattleix.net please.