[ixpmanager] Multi IXP - Graphing

[Barry O'Donovan]

Hi Edrich,

> So fairly new user, 

Welcome!

> We have a need to have the MultiInx graphing working. Is there any way
> we can get this working, even if its semi manually for now? Is there any
> hope to have that multi IXP functionality working.

The history of multi-IXP functionality is that it was added under a
commercial support arrangement with an organisation that never ended up
using IXP Manager.

Multi-IXP functionality is not functionality that INEX / the main
developers want or need and nor is it something that the core target
market for IXP Manager needs. The core/target market being small to
medium IXPs.

The unfortunate reality is that we have a feature list as long as our
arms of things we want and need and so there is no possibility of that
specific functionality being re-implemented in v4.

It's not all dark and gloomy though:

> Firstly, is there any other functionality that wasnt ported across from
> the 3. codebase that affects Multi ixp.

We have conscientiously dropped support for the explicit "multi-IXP"
functionality. There is too much overhead and too little time to
maintain code that is not core to the project.

But:

> Secondly, Ive heard of hacks to get the graphing working. Is there
> anyone who can nudge me in the right direction?

In the main, multi-IXP functionality provided ways of generating
configuration for ancillary services on a per-IXP basis. As we move
stuff from the older code base to the newer code base, we've generally
stopped doing stuff on a per-IXP basis and now generate scripts as
appropriate on a per-infrastructure or per-VLAN basis (VLANs being
children of infrastructure).

In other words, the multi-IXP functionality is mostly implemented by
using infrastructures.

One of the few things that I can think of that this doesn't include is
graphing which, right now, is an 'all or nothing' system.

We have however written a new graphing backend:

http://docs.ixpmanager.org/features/grapher/

It should be relatively easy for an experienced PHP programmer to copy
the MRTG backend to create a new one that works on a per infrastructure
basis.

If you want to do this and the code is fit for purpose, we'd be happy to
accept a pull request that includes:

 - the code
 - updates to the documentation

See:

https://github.com/inex/IXP-Manager/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md

To ensure a PR is successful, it would be advisable to link in with us
on the planned methodology.

Cheers,
 - Barry