What is an autonomous system?

The internet is an internetwork—​a network of computer networks. When discussing routing, we sometimes refer to these independent networks asautonomous systems. Each autonomous system is responsible for routing packets internally. To travel across the broader internet, packets must traverse multiple autonomous systems. So it is more accurate to think of internet routing as happening across autonomous systems, rather than between individual computers. So yes: the internet is an internetwork—​a network of computer networks!

Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).

[danielletrimmer]

I've been struggling to understand autonomous systems...after doing quite a bit of research...this video has helped me to understand! Thank you!

[NO-ltmx]

Thank you so much for this, made things easier to understand!

[SilentGribz]

Thanks for the video, would a SOHO router also count as an autonomous system, or would it rather be another type of box maintained by the ISP?

[vengerer]

Can't a transit AS also be multi-homed?

[Tee-ei]

no homo i am a guy this explanation makes me wanna kiss this guy