How to Connect

The following is the basic list of what is required to be done in order to connect to PIPE Networks. One connection can be different from the next so the staff at PIPE Networks will actively project manage each connection in order to get the best outcome for the customer.

The following information may change periodically to reflect changes in the way that PIPE Networks, carriers or others do business and as such should be treated as a guide only.

  1. Investigate all costs
  2. PIPE Networks will contact you and project manage your connection
  3. PIPE Networks will issue you an IP address for the exchange LAN
  4. Set up your BGP4 session and announce your routes

  1. Investigate all costs!

    Customers must first be aware of all charges to connect to PIPE Networks. Please do not hesitate to contact our sales people by completing this enquiry form in order to fully investigate the cost (and cost saving) issues when connecting with PIPE Networks.

  2. PIPE Networks will contact you and project manage your connection

    Once the paperwork has been completed a PIPE Networks representative will contact you and organise your connection, working with you to get you connected to PIPE Networks as smoothly as possible. This process is project managed due to its highly variable nature and the different number of ways that customers can connect to PIPE Networks.

    In order to complete your connection to PIPE Networks you will need to know some or all of the following, depending how you are connecting to PIPE Networks:

    • The type of router you will be using
    • Your AS Number
    • The networks you will be advertising to PIPE Networks
    • The details of your carrier circuit to PIPE Networks such as FNN, circuit ID, DLCI/VPI/VCI, VLAN numbers etc

    If you are telehousing equipment at PIPE Networks then you will also need to complete a telehousing agreement before any equipment can be placed into the telehousing facility.

  3. PIPE Networks will issue you an IP address

    It is at the completion of this stage that PIPE Networks will issue you with an IP address for the exchange LAN. This will be used for your BGP4 route exchange with PIPE Networks.

    To test connectivity between your network and PIPE Networks you should be able to send ICMP echo requests and receive ICMP echo replies from the PIPE Networks route server.

  4. Setup your BGP4 session and announce your routes

    Once you have layer 2 and 3 connectivity between your network and PIPE Networks then you need to set up the route exchange. PIPE Networks prefers its customers to use the services of a routing registry where possible in order to help configure route filters. We have prepared a configuration example that may be helpful - available here.