May 31, 2007PRESTO Workhop (Princeton, NJ) PRESTO workshop discussion notes Henning Schulzrinne Columbia University

May 31, 2007PRESTO Workhop (Princeton, NJ) Goals –exchange of ideas, plead with vendors –platform (“Linux”) –funding program Abstract models forwarding/routing Guaranteeing resources

May 31, 2007PRESTO Workhop (Princeton, NJ) Why programmable? trying new ideas or solve real problems with current networks? –e.g., richer interface for management –research: existing tools are not performant enough –rapid roll-out (verticalization) several agendas: e.g., some ideas are related to GENI, but similar things useful for service providers CS-like openness because we cannot predict the future

May 31, 2007PRESTO Workhop (Princeton, NJ) Carriers Do SPs want open routers? –their own services? –customer services? –platform separate from the router? Carriers maintain traditional CiSw viewpoint –good match for services customers asking for? Meant for domain experts, but who is that? –server vs. router, flavors of Unix Policy arbitration Hardware not designed for virtualization/isolation –security infrastructure –won’t allow external code on today’s routers

May 31, 2007PRESTO Workhop (Princeton, NJ) Virtualization, scaling Virtualization in research space difficult –under-resourced –easier in commercial space Can’t scale open routing software to reality –not “open” source problem, but software architecture? –can I move it to a real network later? –software forwarding is slow –add netFPGA What is virtualization? What is programmability? –routing & forwarding vs. control plane –services on the same platform - close to fabric –convenience

May 31, 2007PRESTO Workhop (Princeton, NJ) Interfaces What kind of interface/programmability? –recompile kernel –kernel module –netfilter, pcap-style, mirror interface –netflow, SNMP, RSVP,... - external “APIs” Levels –packet forwarding –network operating system

May 31, 2007PRESTO Workhop (Princeton, NJ) Community Need for community –other researchers working on the same platform –tools, OS, common knowledge –ability to impact operational systems

May 31, 2007PRESTO Workhop (Princeton, NJ) Routers Commercial routers vs. open router components –other than Juniper & Cisco –these vendors need to be open –same question as in 1957 at IBM: “why do you want to write your own programs?”