Equinix opens its (many) doors for business

By Jason Meserve
Network World Fusion, 07/29/99

WASHINGTON, D.C. - An Internet start-up this week opened its doors for business with a tour reminiscent of the opening credits of "Get Smart."

Equinix unveiled the first of its 35 planned Internet exchange points, which will let companies and ISPs link and exchange traffic, or peer with one another. Equinix joins MCI WorldCom, Ameritech, Sprint and others who have been operating Metropolitan Area Exchange (MAE) and Network Access Points (NAP) since the Internet went commercial in 1994.

Internet Exchanges, MAEs and NAPs are essentially the same thing. They provide a data center like environment where ISPs can exchange traffic. Equinix' differs from other exchanges in that it does not require ISPs to interconnect via Equinix's ATM network located inside each exchange site. ISPs, content providers and even large enterprise business users will be able to simply peer with one, two or as many ISPs as they need to. Customers will have the option of linking to Equinix's ATM LAN as well.

Already, companies such as Concentric Networks and Akamai are taking up residence at the exchange point.

"We're like a secure Switzerland - we complement, not compete, with our customers," says Al Avery, president and CEO of Equinix.

Visitors to what Equinix is calling the Internet Business Exchange walked through three secured doors to get into the heart of the exchange in Northern Virginia. For security reasons, Equinix would not permit publishing the exact location of the site.

Equinix is focused on security. To enter the first site, one must pass through the secure doors and a manned security checkpoint. Each door is equipped with a biometric hand scanner and electronic keypad. One set of doors forms a "man trap," meaning the first set of doors must close before the second set open.

"We use the biometric scanner and hand impressions because it tells us [exactly] who you are," says Jay Adelson, chief technology officer and co-founder of Equinix.

Once customers are through all the doors they enter the "customer care area" comprising a lobby, conference space, locker rooms, kitchen and a video game room. The glass-enclosed conference room is equipped with ISDN videoconferencing and privacy screens for ultra-sensitive meetings. The only thing missing is the Cone of Silence.

Beyond the customer care area are the nuts and bolts of the exchange. Cages line the room, with each one boasting space for about 10 racks. Each cage is protected by yet another biometric device. There are no raised floors or hidden wiring - everything runs above in well-constructed wiring harnesses.

"You're actually walking through the Internet," Adelson tells visitors to the facility.

Equinix staffs a 24-7 operations center that monitors power and air-conditioning equipment to make sure everything is running smoothly. Adelson stresses that his employees are not network operators, as they do not support the customer racks directly. The only thing Equinix needs to know is the power configuration and what type of cable is needed for making connections.

The air conditioning and power systems have multiple back-up systems. Battery backups provide up to four hours of power to the entire building and generators kick in 10 seconds after a power failure, Adelson says. Fiber can enter the building from either end, ensuring that a stray backhoe can't ruin a customer's day.

Racks are typically not labeled, making it difficult to figure out who is renting the space. Equinix lets their customers be as anonymous as possible, Avery says. The Virginia facility is currently 20% full, but based on some of the companies taking tours of the facility, the remaining 80% should fill up pretty fast.

Though the company is backed heavily by Cisco and Microsoft, Equinix will remain platform and hardware agnostic, Adelson says.

"Equinix's neutrality is very important," says Natalie Robb, a senior analyst with TeleChoice. "The Internet and telecommunications business is very competitive. The whole process of peering can be pretty painful. This will help the process."

The company plans to build another facility next door to handle the expected demand. The second facility in New Jersey is expected to go live this fall.