Software configurable cluster-based router using stock personal computers as cluster nodes
First Claim
1. A software configurable cluster-based router (400) for a packet-switched communication network, said cluster-based router including N cluster nodes (402) connected by a plurality of internal links (404), characterized by:
- a plurality of external links for enabling said cluster-based router to exchange traffic with a plurality of nodes of said packet-switched communication network;
each cluster node of said N cluster nodes (402) being adapted to operate as a core router cluster node and as an edge router cluster node;
the internal links (404) connect said cluster nodes in an intra-connection network adapted to provide a high path diversity for a plurality of packet processing flows routed over said intra-connection network between edge router nodes; and
the cluster nodes connected to external links being adapted to operate as edge router cluster nodes,whereby a specified routing capacity is obtained for said cluster-based router by selecting N and selecting a configuration of said intra-connection network, said configuration having n dimensions, said cluster nodes being interconnected by said internal links in such a way that each of said cluster nodes is connected to two other cluster nodes in each of said dimensions, each of said cluster nodes thereby being connected to 2*n said internal links.
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Abstract
A cluster router architecture and methods for performing distributed routing is presented. Implementations include off-the shelf Personal Computer (PC) hardware. The cluster router architecture includes PC-based router cluster nodes toroidally interconnected in an intra-connection network in multiple dimensions. The cluster router may further make use of a management node. Each router cluster node is provided with the same routing functionality and a node centric configuration enabling each router cluster node by itself or multiple router cluster nodes in the cluster router to provide routing responses for packets pending processing. The method divides packet processing into entry packet processing and routing response processing; and exit processing. Entry packet processing and routing response processing is performed by router cluster nodes receiving packets from communication networks in which the cluster router participates. Exit packet processing is performed by router cluster nodes transmitting packets into communication networks in which the cluster router participates. Advantages are derived from: a configurable, and scalable cluster router design providing a high routing capacity using cost effective stock PC hardware; from the toroidal topology of the intra-connection network which provides a high degree of diversity ensuring resilience to equipment failure, and from the use of the star topology of the management links which reduces management overheads in the intra-connection network.
24 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A software configurable cluster-based router (400) for a packet-switched communication network, said cluster-based router including N cluster nodes (402) connected by a plurality of internal links (404), characterized by:
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a plurality of external links for enabling said cluster-based router to exchange traffic with a plurality of nodes of said packet-switched communication network; each cluster node of said N cluster nodes (402) being adapted to operate as a core router cluster node and as an edge router cluster node; the internal links (404) connect said cluster nodes in an intra-connection network adapted to provide a high path diversity for a plurality of packet processing flows routed over said intra-connection network between edge router nodes; and the cluster nodes connected to external links being adapted to operate as edge router cluster nodes, whereby a specified routing capacity is obtained for said cluster-based router by selecting N and selecting a configuration of said intra-connection network, said configuration having n dimensions, said cluster nodes being interconnected by said internal links in such a way that each of said cluster nodes is connected to two other cluster nodes in each of said dimensions, each of said cluster nodes thereby being connected to 2*n said internal links. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of routing packets over a cluster-based router (400) with a configurable routing capacity and port count, comprising the steps of:
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i) selecting a number N and a configuration for said cluster-based router for obtaining a specified routing capacity and port count for said cluster-based router, said configuration having n dimensions, said cluster nodes being interconnected by said internal links in such a way that each of said cluster nodes is connected to two other cluster nodes in each of said dimensions, each of said cluster nodes thereby being connected to 2*n said internal links, ii) connecting N cluster nodes (402) via internal links in an intra-connection network according to said configuration; iii) connecting a selected number of cluster nodes designated to operate as edge router cluster nodes over a plurality of external links for enabling connection of said cluster-based router in a communication network; and iv) routing packets along packet processing flows established between two edge router cluster node over a plurality of core router cluster nodes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification