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In this paper, we present five case studies of advanced networking functions and how a network processor (NP) can provide high-performance and flexible support for each of them. We first review the basic NP system architectures, and describe in more detail the IBM PowerNP architecture from a data plane as well as from a control plane point of view. We introduce models for the programmer's views of NPs that facilitate a global understanding of NP software programming. Then, for each case study, we present results from prototypes as well as general considerations that also apply to a wider range of system architectures. Namely, we investigate the suitability of NPs for quality-of-service (active queue management and traffic engineering), header processing (GPRS tunneling protocol), intelligent forwarding (load-balancing without flow disruption), payload processing (active networks code interpretation and just-in-time compilation), and protocol stack termination (SCTP). Finally, we summarize the key features required by each case study, and make concluding remarks regarding the future of NPs.
By: Robert Haas, Clark Jeffries, Lukas Kencl, Andreas Kind, Bernard Metzler, Roman Pletka, Marcel Waldvogel, Laurent Frelechoux, and Patrick Droz
Published in: IEEE Network, volume 17, (no 4), pages 46-54 in 2003
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