What is SFMIX?
The San Francisco Metropolitan Internet eXchange (SFMIX) is an Internet Exchange (IX) in the San Francisco Bay Area.
An Internet Exchange is a shared switching fabric where networks come together to exchange traffic directly, rather than routing it through third-party transit providers. Each network connects a single cable to the exchange and can then reach every other connected network — no need to run a separate cable to each one. This replaces an expensive full mesh of point-to-point links with one efficient shared connection.
SFMIX connects its sites with an all-dark-fiber backbone around the Bay Area. Leasing direct access to the glass — rather than leasing wavelengths — means the exchange can scale for a very long time. The backbone already carries 400GBASE-ZR coherent optics today, and as demand grows we simply light additional links on the same fiber span.
Because this backbone bridges multiple buildings, a single connection in any one facility gives you access to networks in all of them. A port in San Jose can peer with a network in San Francisco as easily as one down the hall — the exchange fabric bridges the distance for you.
Why Connect?
Lower latency — Traffic between participants stays local instead of taking detours through upstream networks.
Lower cost — One port replaces many individual cross-connects and transit fees.
Better resilience — Direct paths mean fewer points of failure between you and your peers.
Real people — Your critical traffic traverses local networks operated by local people with real email addresses and phone numbers. When you peer with your neighbors, your viewpoint is heard.
Cool traceroutes — There’s something satisfying about a traceroute that hops through buildings you can point to on a map. Local peering makes the path your traffic takes tangible and understandable.
The more networks that connect, the more valuable the exchange becomes — a cooperative example of Metcalfe’s Law.
Where to Connect?
SFMIX operates across multiple carrier-neutral locations in San Francisco, Santa Clara, Fremont, and San Jose. Additional sites are planned based on demand.
History
Founded in 2006 at 365 Main Street in San Francisco as a single-building IX. The building sponsored rack space and power; the community provided everything else.
In 2013, SFMIX began expanding to additional Bay Area facilities, fueled by community contributions of equipment, volunteer time, and a shared passion for a better Internet.
Today SFMIX spans 9 locations with 1, 10, 100, and 400Gbps port speeds. SFMIX is an IRS 501(c)(12) cooperative — part of a community of member-owned exchanges including SIX, NWAX, and MICE.