Advanced Router Architectures

Advanced Router Architectures addresses how components of advanced routers are integrated with each other. This book provides the background behind why they perform certain functions, and how each function is implemented in general use. It offers an introduction to the subject matter that is intended to trigger deeper interest from the reader. The book explains, for example, why traffic management may be important in certain applications, what the traffic manager does, and how it connects to the rest of the router. The text offers a similar analysis for other router topics such as QOS and policy enforcement, security processing (including DoS/DDoS), and more.

Routers, switches, and transmission equipment form the backbone of the Internet, yet many users and service technicians do not understand how these nodes really work.Advanced Router Architectures addresses how components of advanced routers work together and how they are integrated with each other. This book provides the background behind why these building blocks perform certain functions, and how the function is implemented in general use. It offers an introduction to the subject matter that is intended to trigger deeper interest from the reader. The book explains, for example, why traffic management may be important in certain applications, what the traffic manager does, and how it connects to the rest of the router. The author also examines the implications of the introduction or omission of a traffic manager into an advanced router. The text offers a similar analysis for other router topics such as QOS and policy enforcement, security processing (including DoS/DDoS), and more.This book covers which mandatory and which optional building blocks can be found in an advanced router, and how these building blocks operate in conjunction to ensure that the Internet performs as expected.

Introduction Internet Topology Change OverviewCurrent Status Traffic and Traffic Growth The Carrier Business Model OverviewService Level Agreements (SLAs) The VoIP Business ModelInternal Corporate Accounting Advanced Routers in Central Office Applications OverviewCentral Office (CO) Colocation Function SplitOverviewTraditional System Partitioning and Function Split Functions within the Port Card Functions within the Processor CardFunctions within the Switch CardFunctions within the OAM&P CardHigh Availability OverviewDefinition ImplicationsNetwork View of Redundancy and Failsafe Operation Example Design Life Time and Single Point of Failure Impact Definition of Availability 1+1 Redundancy 1:1 Redundancy 2 out of 3 (or N out of N+1) RedundancyRedundant Switch Fabric CardsRedundant Line CardsRedundant Links Redundant Power Supplies Software RobustnessOAM&P Control over Redundant SubsystemsTimed SwitchoverSwitchover on DemandReducing Human Error Probability The Chassis OverviewSingle-board versus Modular Designs Line Cards OverviewDefinitionsFunctional Requirements Further Impact of Advanced Router ArchitecturesDifferentiation of FunctionsLine Card Implementation in Single-board Designs Line Card Implementation in Midplane Designs Line Card Implementation in Backplane Designs Line Card Messaging and Communications Interior and Exterior Border Gateway Protocols Line Card Functions for PSTN Internetworking Port Card Functions Network Processor and Traffic Manager Software Implications Local Control Processors for Line or Processor Cards Switch Fabric CardsOverviewFunctional Requirements for an Advanced Router's CoreHistory of Router-internal InterconnectsBasics Crosspoint Switches and Crossbar SwitchesShared Memory Switches Non-buffered, Non-queued Switch Fabrics Buffered and Queued Switch Fabrics Combined Virtually Output Queued Switch Fabrics Metrics of Switch Fabrics Net Bit Rate or Link Rate Utilization (Minimum, Maximum, Average)Throughput (Total and on a per-Link Basis) System Availability (Minimum) System Uptime (Minimum) Reliability (Error Rate) Logical Connection Setup Time (Minimum, Maximum, Average) Logical Connection Teardown Time (Minimum, Maximum, Average) Delay and Latency Round-Trip Delay (Minimum, Maximum, Average) Cell Delay Variation (CDV) (Minimum, Maximum, Average) Scalability Field Upgradability Resource Utilization on the Network ProcessorCost StructureFeasibilityPerformance Extension Alternative Solutions The "Switchless Switch"Multicast and Broadcast Bandwidth OverprovisioningTraffic Manager Functions versus Queue Manager FunctionsDeterministic Behavior Switch Fabric I/O Software Function Set in Local Switch Fabric ControlOperation, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning OverviewDefinition of OAMP Functions of the OAM&P EntityOperational Statuses Status TransitionsRelationship with NMC ImplementationFail-safe and Fault-tolerant OAM&P Entity OperationOAM&P Entity Internal CommunicationExamples of Failure Modes of Managed Entities The Necessity for the Device-Global View Sample OAM&P Card Schematic .

Kloth, Axel K.