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Lec 4 - Network Layer - II - Inside A Router

This document discusses the key components and functions inside a router at the network layer. It describes how routers run routing algorithms and protocols to compute forwarding tables and push them to input ports. It then covers the main functions of router input ports, switching fabrics that transfer packets between input and output buffers, and output port functions like buffering, queueing and scheduling. It discusses different switching fabric technologies like memory, bus, and crossbar designs and how they enable packet transfer through the router.

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Muhammad Junaid
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43 views14 pages

Lec 4 - Network Layer - II - Inside A Router

This document discusses the key components and functions inside a router at the network layer. It describes how routers run routing algorithms and protocols to compute forwarding tables and push them to input ports. It then covers the main functions of router input ports, switching fabrics that transfer packets between input and output buffers, and output port functions like buffering, queueing and scheduling. It discusses different switching fabric technologies like memory, bus, and crossbar designs and how they enable packet transfer through the router.

Uploaded by

Muhammad Junaid
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer and

Communication Networks
EE-357 -TE-54
By Dr Mir Yasir Umair
Assistant Professor, MCS, NUST
Network Layer
Inside a Router
Chapter 4: outline
4.1 introduction 4.5 routing algorithms
4.2 virtual circuit and datagram networks o link state
o distance vector
4.3 what’s inside a router
o hierarchical routing
4.4 IP: Internet Protocol
4.6 routing in the Internet
o datagram format
o RIP
o IPv4 addressing
o OSPF
o ICMP
o BGP
o IPv6
4.7 broadcast and multicast
routing

Network Layer 4-3


Router architecture overview
two key router functions:
❖ run routing algorithms/protocol (RIP, OSPF, BGP)
❖ forwarding datagrams from incoming to outgoing link

forwarding tables computed, routing


pushed to input ports routing, management
processor
control plane (software)

forwarding data
plane (hardware)

high-seed
switching
fabric

router input ports router output ports


Network Layer 4-4
Input port functions
lookup,
link forwarding
line layer switch
termination protocol fabric
(receive)
queueing

physical layer:
bit-level reception
data link layer: decentralized switching:
e.g., Ethernet • given datagram dest., lookup output port
using forwarding table in input port
memory (“match plus action”)
• goal: complete input port processing at
‘line speed’
• queuing: if datagrams arrive faster than
forwarding rate into switch fabric
Network Layer 4-5
Switching fabrics
❖ transfer packet from input buffer to appropriate output
buffer
❖ switching rate: rate at which packets can be transfer from
inputs to outputs
▪ often measured as multiple of input/output line rate
▪ N inputs: switching rate N times line rate desirable
❖ three types of switching fabrics

memory

memory bus crossbar

Network Layer 4-6


Switching via memory
first generation routers:
• traditional computers with switching under direct control of CPU
• packet copied to system’s memory
• speed limited by memory bandwidth (2 bus crossings per datagram)

input output
port memory port
(e.g., (e.g.,
Ethernet) Ethernet)

system bus

Network Layer 4-7


Switching via a bus
❖ datagram from input port memory
to output port memory via a shared bus
❖ bus contention: switching speed limited
by bus bandwidth
❖ 32 Gbps bus, Cisco 5600: sufficient
speed for access and enterprise routers bus

Network Layer 4-8


Switching via interconnection network
❖ overcome bus bandwidth limitations
❖ banyan networks, crossbar, other
interconnection nets initially developed to
connect processors in multiprocessor
❖ advanced design: fragmenting datagram
into fixed length cells, switch cells through
the fabric. crossbar
❖ Cisco 12000: switches 60 Gbps through the
interconnection network

Network Layer 4-9


Output ports

datagram
switch buffer link
fabric layer line
protocol termination
queueing (send)

❖ buffering required when datagrams arrive from fabric faster than the
transmission rate
❖ scheduling discipline chooses among queued datagrams for transmission

Datagram (packets) can be lost


Priority scheduling – who gets best
due to congestion, lack of buffers
performance, network neutrality

Network Layer 4-10


Output port queueing

switch
switch
fabric
fabric

at t, packets more one packet time later


from input to output

• buffering when arrival rate via switch exceeds output line speed
• queueing (delay) and loss due to output port buffer overflow!

Network Layer 4-11


How much buffering?
• RFC 3439 rule of thumb: average buffering equal to “typical” RTT (say 250 msec)
times link capacity C
o e.g., C = 10 Gpbs link: 2.5 Gbit buffer
• recent recommendation: with N flows, buffering equal to

RTT . C
N

Network Layer 4-12


Input port queuing
• fabric slower than input ports combined -> queueing may
occur at input queues
o queueing delay and loss due to input buffer overflow!
• Head-of-the-Line (HOL) blocking: queued datagram at front
of queue prevents others in queue from moving forward

switch switch
fabric fabric

output port contention: one packet time later:


only one red datagram can be green packet
transferred. experiences HOL
lower red packet is blocked blocking
Network Layer 4-13
Thank you

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