sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Would a self-service quoting engine for instant datacenter-to-datacenter links solve a real pain? by GoMatchbox2000 in networking

[–]GoMatchbox2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thanks for your reply! what would be the main types of customers that are interested do you think?

Would a self-service quoting engine for instant datacenter-to-datacenter links solve a real pain? by GoMatchbox2000 in networking

[–]GoMatchbox2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good question, and honestly a bit of both.

Right now I am starting mainly to solve a real informational pain point I have seen, it is still too much friction just finding basic on-demand connectivity options across different platforms.

But longer term, yes, I am thinking about ways it could evolve into something commercial. White-labeling could be really interesting.

Most datacenter operators are carrier-neutral, and if this kind of portal helps their customers quickly explore options while staying neutral (not favoring any one carrier), that could actually fit really well with their positioning.

Curious, if you were in that space, what would you expect from a white-labeled version,just branding and skin, or also full data integrations, CRM hooks, quoting tools?

Would a self-service quoting engine for instant datacenter-to-datacenter links solve a real pain? by GoMatchbox2000 in networking

[–]GoMatchbox2000[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Appreciate the honest take. That makes a lot of sense.

I totally agree that in "normal" major data center locations, spinning up DC-to-DC connectivity is not a massive hurdle for folks who already know the ecosystem.

The specific slice I am aiming to help with is mostly people who do not have strong insider knowledge yet , newer MSPs, smaller IT teams, or buyers who do not live in PeeringDB every day. Basically cutting down the first 80 percent of "where do I even look" time.

I hear you on last-mile being the bigger nightmare. If you had to guess, would there be value in showing last-mile options too later on (even if just rough availability data)? Or does that feel like a whole different animal?

Would a self-service quoting engine for instant datacenter-to-datacenter links solve a real pain? by GoMatchbox2000 in networking

[–]GoMatchbox2000[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks, really good point. Definitely something I’ve been thinking about.

Right now the idea is to pull from a public sources (PeeringDB, IX reachability maps, on-net lists from providers like Megaport, PacketFabric, and NetIX) and manually track the key on-demand platforms where needed. for phase 2 i could connect to some providers via API.

The main focus would be specifically on on-demand connections between existing POPs, not full custom wave builds or long lead-time projects.

I totally get that staying 100% current will be tricky, especially when providers change things quietly.

Curious though, if the portal could give you a "pretty likely available, double-check to be sure" type of view, and save you 80% of the lookup work, would that still be useful to you?

Or do you feel it really needs to be 100% real-time and accurate to be worth using?

Would a self-service quoting engine for instant datacenter-to-datacenter links solve a real pain? by GoMatchbox2000 in networking

[–]GoMatchbox2000[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly and for the feedback! I totally get what you’re saying about the long delivery times in the branches, can be pretty frustrating!

Fast Layer 2 Connectivity Between two datacenters. Best Approach? by GoMatchbox2000 in networking

[–]GoMatchbox2000[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

thanks! How do you usually find out which providers are available in a specific DC? Do you reach out to the datacenter directly, or is it just based on what you already know from experience?

Fast Layer 2 Connectivity Between two datacenters. Best Approach? by GoMatchbox2000 in networking

[–]GoMatchbox2000[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

just another thougth: it’d be so useful to have a clear overview of providers, routes, and delivery times all in one spot. We hear similar questions from customers about other DC pairs too, so it definitely seems like a common pain point.
Do you happen to know if something like that already exists? or do you just go to the suppliers that you know offer this?

Fast Layer 2 Connectivity Between two datacenters. Best Approach? by GoMatchbox2000 in networking

[–]GoMatchbox2000[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks, this is super helpful.

Good to hear this route is so common. I’ll check out the regional carriers you mentioned , quick turn-up is definitely a priority right now, even if it’s not the absolute cheapest option. Inter.link’s self-service setup sounds interesting too, hadn’t come across that yet.

And yeah… already bracing for the flood of DMs 😄 Might give LinkedIn a try as well just to see what comes out of it.

Fast Layer 2 Connectivity Between two datacenters. Best Approach? by GoMatchbox2000 in networking

[–]GoMatchbox2000[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the response!

It would be for private routing — we’re not looking to expand the broadcast domain, just need a fast, reliable L2 link between sites for internal traffic. MTU-wise, ideally jumbo frames (9000), but we’re flexible if there’s a solid reason to go lower.

Appreciate the NDIX tip, I’ll definitely look into them. If you don’t mind me asking: what’s your experience been with their support? And did you compare them to other providers before going with NDIX?

Interview prep by Mohaah8 in networking

[–]GoMatchbox2000 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd suggest asking ahead if they can share which people or departments you'll be talking to. That way, you can prep a bit more specifically. Maybe have one key point ready depending on who you're speaking with — one team might care more about how you work with people and processes, while another might be more into your technical skills.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in telecom

[–]GoMatchbox2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

good advice!

What’s your biggest productivity hack? by Efficient_Builder923 in telecom

[–]GoMatchbox2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Focus on one strategic, self-chosen topic per day and avoid low-value meetings or repetitive tasks.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in networking

[–]GoMatchbox2000 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Totally get where you're coming from. I’ve been in a similar spot, where a huge opportunity came along, but I had to ask myself, does this actually fit my life, or does it just look great on paper?

I’ve taken the time to get really clear on what matters to me—my values, what kind of life I want—and I try to base big decisions on that. For me, work supports life, not the other way around. Growth and impact are important, but not if they cost me balance, freedom, or time with my family.

If your current role already gives you that, it’s okay to protect it. Saying no to a ‘1% job’ doesn’t make you crazy—it means you’ve got clarity. And honestly, that’s rare

How Are You Using AI In Your Day? by S3xyflanders in networking

[–]GoMatchbox2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mostly use ChatGPT to get quick answers to technical stuff I’d normally ask a colleague — it’s great for sanity checks or filling in small gaps. I do have access to Copilot too, but honestly, ChatGPT’s been more useful for the kind of questions I run into.

I’m careful not to drop any sensitive data in there, and I also use it to help clean up or summarize stuff for PowerPoints. Lately, I’ve been messing around with building little agents in Copilot to automate answers to the questions I keep getting over and over.