Research On The Architecture And Key Technologies Of Cluster-Based Routers

In recent years, the traffic and the size of Internet as well as the Internet applications grow rapidly. Higher performances in terms of throuputs, services, scalability, availability and manageability, etc., are required for next generation high performance routers However, the scalability and availability of current high performance routers cannot meet future requirements. A cluster-based router is a single-image router constructed by multiple independent routers which are connected in a specific way. And it is promising for building next generation high performance routers.Currently, cluster-based routers consist of routing units connected by scalable switching fabric. And the architecture and performance of the switching fabric will greatly influence many features of cluster-based routers. First, different kinds of scalable switching fabrics are analyzed and compared in this dissertation. Then a conclusion is drawn that 3D Torus fabric is suitable for the design of cluster-based routers. To solve the problems of existing routing algorithms based on 3D Torus fabric, a novel dimension-order-based multi-path routing algorithm named DMR is proposed.The cluster-based router connected by scalable switching fabric needs specific routing nodes. So it cannot scale well. To solve this problem, we propose a model of HCR (Heterogeneous Cluster-based Router). In HCR, with standard interfaces and protocols, those routers even different in the size, performance or internal structure can be connected to construct a scalable single-image router system. We address the architecture and its feasibility in detail. Then we discuss key technologies of this model and their possible solutions. Particularly, we make comprehensive research on aggregating technology for multiple switching fabrics in HCR. Finally, we propose a novel strategy named KILB as well as a switch scheduling algorithms based on KILB.The major contributions of this dissertation are as follows:(1) We have made comprehensive research work on topology of scalable multi-stage switching fabric. Taken the performance, size, scalability and the complexity of implementation as primary standards, we analyze and compare different kinds of scalable switching fabrics. Then we get the conclusion that 3D Torus fabric is more suitable for constructing cluster-based routers.(2) We propose a model for 3D Torus switching fabrics. Based on features analysis of channel workloads, a novel routing algorithm named DMR is proposed and the performance of DMR routing algorithm is studied using a simulation approach. The simulation results show that DMR can keep the performance in a favorable level and maintain the packets order in one flow.