IXbrist

IXbrist, also known as IX Bristol, is an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) located in Bristol, United Kingdom. It was established in 2005 and is operated by the University of Bristol. IXbrist serves as a physical infrastructure that enables Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and content providers to exchange Internet traffic directly, rather than routing it through upstream networks or the global Internet backbone.

The primary purpose of IXbrist is to improve the efficiency and performance of the Internet by reducing the amount of traffic that needs to be sent to upstream providers. This is achieved by allowing ISPs to peer with each other, which means they can exchange traffic directly. This not only reduces the load on the global Internet backbone but also decreases latency and improves the overall user experience.

IXbrist is a member of the London Internet Exchange (LINX), which is one of the largest IXPs in the world. This membership allows IXbrist to connect with a wide range of other IXPs and ISPs, further enhancing its peering capabilities.

The IXP is located in the University of Bristol's Computer Science building and is accessible to both academic and commercial users. It supports a variety of Internet protocols and is designed to handle high volumes of traffic, making it a reliable and efficient solution for ISPs and content providers in the Bristol area and beyond.