How PeeringDB Makes Network Interconnection Actually Work

If you've ever wondered how major networks find each other and decide to connect, PeeringDB is probably doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes. It's basically the LinkedIn of internet infrastructure—a massive database where networks, internet exchange points, and data centers list their details so others can find them and set up peering agreements.

What PeeringDB Actually Does

PeeringDB is a free, community-driven database that helps network operators discover potential peering partners. Think of it as a matchmaking service for the internet's backbone. Instead of cold-calling dozens of networks hoping to find the right connection point, you can search the database to see who's available at your facility, what their peering policy is, and how to reach them.

The platform tracks three main things: networks (ISPs, content providers, enterprises), internet exchange points where these networks meet, and the physical facilities that house the equipment. This information helps network engineers make faster decisions about where to establish connections and reduces the time spent on interconnection planning from weeks to days.

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Getting Your Network Listed

Registration is straightforward but follows a clear approval process. You'll need to create an account first, then submit your network information for review by PeeringDB's Admin Committee. They verify that you're representing a legitimate network entity—not just curious about the data.

Once approved, you can add details about your network's presence at different facilities and exchange points. The more complete your entry, the more likely other networks will reach out. Key information includes your AS number, peering policy (open, selective, or restrictive), contact details, and traffic volumes.

New users should start with the HOWTOs section in the documentation. These guides walk through common tasks like adding your first facility presence or updating contact information. There's also a glossary that explains PeeringDB-specific terminology, which helps if you're new to the peering world.

Using the API for Automation

The real power of PeeringDB shows up when you start using the API. Every piece of data in the web interface is accessible programmatically, which means you can build tools that automatically check for new peering opportunities or validate your existing connections.

The API structure is simple—just add /api/ to any URL to get JSON data instead of HTML. For example, viewing network details at peeringdb.com/net/1 becomes peeringdb.com/api/net/1 for the API version. You can list all networks by removing the ID: peeringdb.com/api/net.

For teams managing large-scale networks, PeeringDB offers a command line tool for local database replication. This lets you run complex queries against your own copy of the data without hammering their servers. The tool syncs changes automatically, so your local copy stays current.

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Staying Connected with the Community

PeeringDB runs several mailing lists for different purposes. The Announce list covers maintenance windows and upgrades—useful if you rely on PeeringDB data in production systems. The Governance list is where community members discuss policy changes and the database's future direction.

Technical discussions happen on the Tech list, while translation efforts coordinate through the Translate list. There's also a general User-Discuss list for everything else. You can subscribe to whichever lists match your interests, or none at all—database access doesn't require list membership.

Bug reports and feature requests go through GitHub issues, which keeps the development process transparent. The release notes page tracks what's changing and when, so you can plan around upcoming updates.

Resources Worth Checking Out

Beyond the database itself, PeeringDB maintains a collection of community-contributed tools and tutorials. The tools page features scripts and utilities that other users have built on top of the API. Some automate network documentation, others generate peering matrices or validate routing policies.

The presentations archive includes workshop materials from industry events worldwide. These range from 20-minute overviews to detailed multi-part tutorials covering both the GUI and API. If you're training new team members on peering workflows, these materials provide a solid foundation.

PeeringDB also commissioned a full security audit of their source code in 2018, with results available publicly. For an open-source project handling sensitive network infrastructure data, this level of transparency matters.

The Beta Environment and Data Access

A beta server runs the latest development version if you want to test integrations before updates hit production. Changes made on beta don't affect the live database, so it's safe for experimentation. The beta server also shows which GitHub issues are included in the next release.

Historical data stretching back to 2010 is archived by CAIDA for researchers studying internet infrastructure evolution. This dataset helps track how interconnection patterns have shifted over time.

The whole project runs on community contributions—accurate data depends on networks keeping their entries updated. If you spot outdated information, fixing it helps everyone who relies on PeeringDB for interconnection planning. The documentation is open source too, so improvements from users with firsthand experience are always welcome.