FireStorm now runs its own autonomous system: AS199646
Until now, FireStorm’s IP addresses reached the internet through a partner’s network. That is changing: FireStorm now operates its own autonomous system with the number AS199646. This means we decide ourselves which paths the data between your website and the internet takes, and we no longer depend on a single provider.
AS199646 is registered with RIPE NCC to FireStorm ISP GmbH.
IPv4 213.177.189.0/24 and IPv6 2a14:6640::/29 belong to FireStorm.
Several independent upstreams, including Init7 and Securebit.
Operated from Zug and Zurich, under Swiss law.
What is an autonomous system?
The internet consists of many thousands of networks connected to each other through the BGP protocol. Each of these networks has its own number, the AS number. Whoever runs an autonomous system announces its IP addresses to the internet itself and decides which partners carry its traffic. Large providers have always operated their own autonomous systems. With AS199646, FireStorm now belongs to this group as well.
What changes for you
In your daily work, nothing changes. You do not have to reconfigure anything: your website, your e-mail and your server remain reachable under the same addresses. Behind the scenes, however, you gain quite a bit:
- Higher resilience: Our network is connected through several independent upstreams. If one path fails, traffic automatically takes another.
- Shorter paths: We can interconnect directly with other networks (peering) and avoid detours.
- Faster response: In case of outages or attacks we adjust the routing ourselves instead of waiting for a third party.
- Addresses that stay: The IP ranges belong to FireStorm and are not tied to a network or data centre partner.
The migration of our networks to AS199646 takes place step by step and without interruption.
Technical details
All information about our autonomous system is now available at as199646.net: AS number, IP ranges, upstreams, peering policy and contacts.
as199646.net: the FireStorm network site
Network operators who would like to peer with FireStorm can reach us at peering@firestorm.ch. Our Network Operation Center is available at noc@firestorm.ch.
Who benefits
All customers benefit from our own network connectivity, from simple web hosting to root servers. It is most noticeable for business customers with high availability requirements, such as online shops, agencies with many customer sites or companies that run their servers in our data centre.
Learn more about our infrastructure on the data centre page.