[p2p-research] Slashdot | Peering Disputes Migrate To IPv6

[Paul D. Fernhout]

Here is an example about big peers arguing over exchanging data at the 
network infrastructure level; I'm not sure what exactly an analogous 
situation would be at the individual level for distributed wi-fi or 
something like that?

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/10/23/1715235/Peering-Disputes-Migrate-To-IPv6
"As more networks prepare for the transition to IPv6, we're seeing the first 
peering disputes (sometimes known as 'Internet partitions') involving IPv6 
connectivity. The dispute involves Cogent, which has previously been 
involved in high-profile IPv4 peering spats with Sprint, Level 3 and Telia. 
Hurricane Electric, which has been an early adopter on IPv6, says Cogent 
won't peer with it over IPv6. Hurricane has extended an olive branch by 
baking a cake bearing a message of outreach for Cogent."
http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/10/22/peering-disputes-migrate-to-ipv6/
http://www.merit.edu/mail.archives/nanog/msg01006.html

 From the datacenterknowledge link:
"""
   IPv6 is the next generation of the Internet Protocol, and will 
dramatically expand the number of addresses available for web sites, as well 
as millions of mobile devices with Internet access. Although the transition 
will address some of the network’s challenges, others will clearly persist. 
That includes disputes over peering, which have quickly made the jump from 
IPv4 to IPv6. ...
   “If you’ve been around long enough, you’d know that normally nobody talks 
about peering publicly like this,” Leber wrote. “Then why would I write this 
post? Because I want to set the record straight regarding Hurricane 
Electric’s IPv6 peering goals, and nothing in Cogent’s case seems to get 
through to them.”
   Cogent had less to say its relationship about Hurricane Electric. “It is 
public knowledge that our networks are connected,” said Travis Wachter, the 
Marketing Communications Manager for Cogent. “As for peering agreements, we 
cannot discuss them publicly as we have non-disclosure agreements in place.”
   Peering allows two providers exchanging large volumes of traffic to save 
money by connecting directly, rather than routing traffic across their paid 
Internet connections. Peering is often free as long as the amount of traffic 
exchanged is not out of balance, providing substantial cost savings for 
bandwidth for high-traffic sites and networks.
   Cogent has been involved in a number of high-profile peering disputes 
over the years, including de-peerings that disrupted IPv4 connectivity with 
Sprint, Telia and Limelight Networks.
"""

Anyway, it's interesting to think about levels of "peers" in communications 
hierarchies. :-)

--Paul Fernhout
http://www.pdfernhout.net/
http://www.beyondajoblessrecovery.org/