Why don't ISPs peer with everyone?

[mpalmer at hezmatt.org (Matthew Palmer)]

On Tue, Jun 07, 2011 at 10:15:48AM -0400, Drew Weaver wrote:
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jon Lewis [mailto:jlewis at lewis.org] 
> Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 10:00 AM
> 
> -snip-
> 
> I manage a network that's primarily a hosting network.  There's a similar 
> hosting network at the other end of the building.  We both have multiple 
> gigs of transit.  We don't peer with each other.  Perhaps we should, 
> because the cost of the connection would be negligible (I think we already 
> have multiple fiber pairs between our suites), but looking at my sampled 
> netflow data, I'm guessing we average about 100kbit/s or less traffic in 
> each direction between us.  At that low a level, is it even worth the time 
> and trouble to coordinate setting up a peering connection, much less 
> tying up a gigE port at each end?
> -----
> 
> 100kbit/s at <1ms is better than 100kbit/s at > 1ms.

True, but the point being made is: how *much* better?  Is it enough better
to justify the cost of installing and maintaining another peering link?

- Matt

-- 
"Ah, the beauty of OSS. Hundreds of volunteers worldwide volunteering their
time inventing and implementing new, exciting ways for software to suck."
		-- Toni Lassila, in the Monastery