CHICAGO, IL -- The STAR TAP Router has been installed at Ameritech's Network Access Point (NAP) in Chicago to facilitate peering among the 20 National Research Networks (NRNs) connected to STAR TAP. This Router is a resource, enabling STAR TAP-connected networks to exchange routes and traffic with other STAR TAP-connected networks with which they do not directly peer.

The STAR TAP Router does not have an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP); i.e., it is AUP free. However, route filters are used to prevent intra-European and intra-Asian traffic via STAR TAP; that is:

1.   North American networks get European and Asian routes

2.   European networks get North American and Asian routes

3.   Asian networks get North American and European routes

Direct peering between networks that exchange large amounts of traffic or run critical applications is encouraged. To set up direct peering sessions, see the STAR TAP Points of Contact table, at http://www.startap.net/ABOUT/points.html. The STAR TAP Router is meant to complement those peering sessions, not replace them.

To date, STAR TAP router peers include CA* Net 2, NREN, APAN, CERN, IUCC, NORDUnet and SURFnet. Due to individual policy restrictions, the vBNS, Abilene and ESnet are not currently planning to peer with the STAR TAP Router. We suggest STAR TAP participants peer directly with those networks.

Contact:
Laura Wolf
University of Illinois at Chicago Electronic Visualization Laboratory (M/C 154)
851 S. Morgan St., Room 1120 SEO, Chicago, IL 60607-7053
laura@evl.uic.edu