Coming Soon

Chicago Open Pipes is coming soon! We're ready to rack and stack to build the first independent, data center-neutral, nonprofit Internet exchange in Chicago.

Chicago Open Pipes

Chicago's first independent, data center-neutral, nonprofit Internet exchange. mushroom Midwest values, local routing.

Chicago Open Pipes brings next-level interconnection to the Midwest — neutral, nonprofit infrastructure run by the community.

We're carrier- and data center-neutral, enabling peering without competing with the networks we serve.

Lower costs, better performance, and stronger regional infrastructure — interconnection done right.

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Ready to peer? [email protected]

Who We Are

Open Pipes is a nonprofit initiative led by a community of Internet infrastructure specialists. We're building next-level interconnection through neutral infrastructure, shared knowledge, and collaborative standards.

Our mission: To advance interconnection by providing a nonprofit home for self-governed regional Internet exchanges and developing the standards, best practices, and open source tools that power modern peering infrastructure.

Provide nonprofit structure for regional, self-governed IXs.
Enable communities to launch exchanges without forming individual nonprofits.
Develop and promote interconnection standards and BCOPs.
Support open source tools and collaborative Internet infrastructure projects.

Open Pipes is proudly supported by:

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Our Work

Helping Communities Build the Internet

Nonprofit IX Umbrella

We provide the nonprofit structure for regional communities to launch self-governed Internet exchanges without forming individual organizations.

Open Source Advocacy

We promote open source tools that power the Internet, from routing to monitoring to automation.

Standards & Collaboration

We work with global communities to support open standards and best practices in interconnection.

Ways to Get Involved

START A NONPROFIT IX CONTRIBUTE CODE PARTNER WITH US

Neutral infrastructure. Open standards. Community-governed exchanges.

Start a Nonprofit IX

Your Path to a Neutral Internet Exchange

Want to start an IX in your region? Open Pipes provides the nonprofit structure so you can focus on building your exchange, not filing paperwork.

Launch your self-governed, regional IX under our nonprofit umbrella with ongoing support along the way.

Let's get started

Internet Infrastructure Documentation

Knowledge is Power

The Beginner's Guide to Interconnection

The Internet isn't one big network, it's thousands, all exchanging data every second. This page unpacks the hidden infrastructure behind that magic, from Internet Exchanges and peering to cloud on-ramps, showing how networks connect, collaborate, and keep the world online.

Traffic Engineering Best Practices

Traffic engineering is how networks plan and control data flow to keep things fast, smooth, and reliable. This page shows the tools and tactics operators use to cut latency, prevent congestion, and make every packet count.

BGP Essentials - A Beginner's Guide

BGP is the Internet's routing backbone, the protocol that tells data how to move across thousands of networks. This page breaks down how it works, why it matters, and the best practices that keep the global Internet running smoothly

Network Automation

Network automation uses code, APIs, and workflows to manage networks at scale, faster, safer, and without human error. This page explores the tools and practices that turn complex infrastructure into reliable, self-running systems.

Developing a Peering Strategy

A peering strategy is how networks choose who to connect with, where, and why, shaping cost, performance, and market reach. This page shows how smart interconnection decisions turn traffic flows into business advantages.

Partnership Building: Developing Relationships

Strong partnerships power the Internet, connecting networks to carriers, content networks, and data hubs that expand reach and boost performance. This page explores how strategic relationships turn technical connectivity into lasting business success.

Positioning Your IX or Network

Positioning is how you tell the story of your IX or network, what sets you apart and why others should connect with you. This page shows how to craft a compelling value proposition that turns technical capability into trust, relevance, and growth.

Community Engagement

Community engagement is how networks turn connections into trusted relationships, showing up, contributing, and collaborating to shape the Internet's future. This page explores how active participation builds credibility, visibility, and long-term opportunity.

Telling Your Story

Storytelling turns powerful infrastructure into a compelling reason to connect, showing both engineers and executives the real-world impact behind the technology. This page explains how to communicate value clearly, with data, outcomes, and human stories that resonate.

Launching a Nonprofit IX

A nonprofit IX is more than infrastructure, it's a community asset built on trust, neutrality, and shared benefit. This page guides you through structuring your organization, defining a growth roadmap, and building an exchange that serves the Internet, not shareholders.