Another difference is cost: + Router Server - cost is workstation, software, and training. You need to buy the RS software. $120,000 (Merit's price) is a lot of money to collect for an IXP project in places like Kenya, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Philippines, etc.). + Router Reflector - cost is a router (or a unix box with gated) and training. (3620 works fine for a IXP with +60 ISPs). Barry
-----Original Message----- From: owner-nanog@merit.edu [mailto:owner-nanog@merit.edu]On Behalf Of William B. Norton Sent: Monday, January 08, 2001 11:27 AM To: Bill Woodcock; nanog@merit.edu Subject: Re: Exchange point networks
One difference is that Route Servers, like the ones run by Merit RSNG team, are based on the Internet Routing Registry, whereas route reflectors are not. Route Server routes are re-announced based upon configured IRR policy.
I also think of Route Reflectors as being both internal AS (IGP) and external AS (BGP) re-announcers whereas Route Servers are strictly inter-AS (BGP).
Bill
I've also heard some symantic confusion between route-servers and route reflectors. In conversation, I usually assume that distinction to be between functionally equivalent boxes operating in the plenum between a number of administrative domains (a route-server) or as glue between regions or ASes within one administrative domain (a route reflector). I don't know how common that understanding would be, though. Anyone have any better thoughts on the difference between a route-server and a route reflector?