IP router architectures: An overview

In the emerging environment of high performance IP networks, it is expected that local and campus area backbones, enterprise networks, and internet service providers (ISPs) will use multigigabit and terabit networking technologies where IP routers will be used not only to interconnect backbone segments but also to act as points of attachments to high performance wide area links. Special attention must be given to new powerful architectures for routers in order to play that demanding role. In this paper, we identify important trends in router design and outline some design issues facing the next generation of routers. It is also observed that the achievement of high throughput IP routers is possible if the critical tasks are identified and special purpose modules are properly tailored to perform them.