SwitchWare: Accelerating Network Evolution -- 10 year cycle

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

SwitchWare: Accelerating Network Evolution (White Paper) (1996)

        • Smith, Jonathan M,
        • Farber, David J,
        • Gunter, Carl A,
        • Nettles, Scott M,
        • Feldmeier, D. C,
        • Sincoskie, W. David

Abstract
We propose the development of a set of software technologies  
("SwitchWare") which will enable rapid development and deployment of  
new network services. The key insight is that by making the basic  
network service selectable on a per user (or even per packet) basis,  
the need for formal standardization is eliminated. Additionally, by  
making the basic network service programmable, the deployment times,  
today constrained by capital funding limitations, are tremendously  
reduced (to the order of software distribution times). Finally, by  
constructing an advanced, robust programming environment, even the  
service development time can be reduced. A SwitchWare switch consists  
of input and output ports controlled by a software-programmable  
element; programs are contained in sequences of messages sent to the  
SwitchWare switch's input ports, which interpret the messages as  
programs. We call these "Switchlets". This accelerates the pace of  
network evolution, as evolving user needs can be immediately reflected  
in the network infrastructure. Immediate reconfigurability enhances  
the adaptability of the network infrastructure in the face of  
unexpected situations. We call a network built from SwitchWare  
switches an active network.

Publication details
Download
http://repository.upenn.edu/cis_reports/211
Publisher
ScholarlyCommons@Penn
Repository
ScholarlyCommons@Penn (United States)
Type
text

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