Internet exchange point · Düsseldorf

RheinIX, UnioHost's internet exchange

An internet exchange point (IXP) run by UnioHost: a shared peering LAN, a route server to reach everyone, and bilateral peering with every member.

  • Free 100 Mbps port, 1 Gbps at €5/month for the first 10
  • Route server and bilateral peering on a real L2 LAN, via VXLAN or EoGRE
See the plans

RheinIX is open: 1 Gbps at €5/month for the First 10 members

Claim it

Join RheinIX

A free port to get started, 1 Gbps when you need it. Monthly prices, no commitment.

Peering 100MFree

Join RheinIX for free

Free

Forever, no credit card needed.

Get my free port
  • 100 Mbps port on the peering LAN
  • Fixed IPv6 address in the IX /64
  • Session with the route server (all members)
  • Bilateral peering with anyone you like
  • Connection via VXLAN or EoGRE
  • One free port per member, no commitment

Peering 1GFirst 10 members

€5/month for the first 10 members, then €10/month

5 €/month

No commitment, cancel anytime.

Get 1 Gbps
  • 1 Gbps port on the peering LAN
  • Everything in Peering 100M, plus:
  • Founder pricing: €5/month locked in for as long as you stay subscribed
  • A dedicated IPv6 /64 routed to your port
  • Upgrade from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps without changing your configuration
  • No commitment, cancel anytime

Everything a real IX gives you

Not just a tunnel to a route server: a shared Ethernet LAN, just like at the big IXs.

A real L2 LAN

All members on the same Ethernet segment, just like on a switch.

Route server

One session to 2a0c:b641:f7f::1 and you reach every member.

Bilateral peering

Thanks to L2, a direct session with anyone you like.

Direct traffic

The route server distributes routes, not your packets.

From anywhere

VXLAN or EoGRE: no need for a rack in Düsseldorf.

Less transit

What you exchange at the IX no longer goes through your transit providers.

Fixed IPv6

A dedicated address in 2a0c:b641:f7f::/64, for PeeringDB.

Open to every ASN

Operators, hosting providers, non-profits: any network with a public ASN is welcome.

A virtual switch shared by everyone

Each member links their router to the LAN through an L2 tunnel. From there, they see everyone.

RheinIX peering LAN diagramEach member connects to the L2 LAN through a VXLAN or EoGRE tunnel. The route server distributes routes; traffic flows directly between members.Route server::1 · AS64700LAN L2 RheinIX2a0c:b641:f7f::/64 · MTU 1400VXLANUnioHost::10EoGREMember A::11VXLAN / EoGREYou::1xdirect bilateral peering

Plug in once,
connect to all.

The route server distributes routes. The packets go straight from one member to another.

  • A fixed IP: in 2a0c:b641:f7f::/64.

  • A session: to the route server 2a0c:b641:f7f::1.

  • Bilaterals: with the members of your choice.

  • A tunnel: VXLAN or EoGRE, MTU 1400.

Technical details

Everything you need to connect

The IX fact sheet and a configuration ready to adapt.

RheinIX fact sheet

Peering LAN2a0c:b641:f7f::/64
Route server2a0c:b641:f7f::1 (AS64700)
Route server typeTransparent
MTU1400
ConnectionVXLAN or EoGRE (GRETAP)
ProtocolIPv6 only
LocationDüsseldorf (DE)
OperatorUnioHost, AS218268

Configuration

1. The tunnel

# Linux: L2 tunnel to RheinIX (VXLAN)
ip link add rheinix type vxlan id <VNI> remote <PoP IP> dstport 4789
ip link set rheinix mtu 1400 up
ip -6 addr add 2a0c:b641:f7f::1x/64 dev rheinix

# EoGRE variant
# ip link add rheinix type gretap local <your IP> remote <PoP IP>

2. The BGP session (BIRD 2)

protocol bgp rheinix_rs {
  description "RheinIX route server";
  local 2a0c:b641:f7f::1x as <YOUR_ASN>;
  neighbor 2a0c:b641:f7f::1 as 64700;
  ipv6 {
    import all;
    export where net ~ [ 2001:db8::/48 ];  # your prefixes
  };
}

The VNI, the PoP IP and your ::1x address are shown in your client area as soon as your port is created.

How it works

One email exchange, and your port is up.

1

Write to us

Your ASN, your as-set and the public IP on your side of the tunnel (VXLAN or EoGRE).

2

Prove the AS

A remarks: line in your RIPE aut-num, to show the AS really is yours.

3

We create your port

Your port, your IP in 2a0c:b641:f7f::/64 and the route server session, visible in your client area.

4

Bring up the tunnel and peer

With the configuration provided, to the route server and then bilaterally.

All about RheinIX

The questions we get asked most often.

A shared local network where operators, hosting providers and community networks exchange traffic directly over BGP, without going through a paid transit provider. RheinIX is one, in Düsseldorf, reachable by tunnel from anywhere.

Create your account, enter your ASN and your router's public IP: your port, your address on the LAN and the route server session are created right away. It goes live as soon as you prove the AS is yours (one line in your aut-num).

The 100 Mbps port is free, one per member. 1 Gbps is €5/month for the first 10 members who take it (price locked in for as long as you stay subscribed), then €10/month. No commitment.

Yes: we exchange routes over BGP, so you need your ASN and your IPv6 prefixes registered in an IRR.

As soon as 3 independent networks are connected. The first members will appear there right away, then on bgp.tools.

VXLAN if your router supports it, otherwise EoGRE (GRETAP). Both carry Ethernet, so real L2.

To leave room for the tunnel headers without fragmentation. Set the same MTU on your side.

The route server is transparent: AS64700 does not appear in the paths. Disable “enforce-first-as” (Cisco, Juniper, MikroTik). BIRD accepts it by default.

Need to go further? IP transit

Announce your ASN to the whole world from €5/month, on the same router.

See transit

A question before you connect?

We help you bring up the tunnel and the session, whatever your router.

Write to us