Design and Implementation of an Open Programmable Router Compliant to IETF ForCES Specifications

IETF ForCES (forwarding and control element separation) is defining specifications for interfaces and modular resources abstractions of network equipments. ForCES brings flexible, programmable, and cost-effective advantages over traditional architectures for network equipments. In this paper, the design and implementation of a ForCES-based router (ForTER) was illustrated. The framework of ForCES was introduced firstly. Then a layered model for the implementation of ForTER was presented. Next, the implementation details of control element (CE) and forwarding element (FE) of ForTER were introduced, which complied with the ForCES framework and related IETF ForCES specifications. Finally, results of experiments for routing and for SNMP support showed the feasibility of the system architecture of ForTER, which also fundamentally testified the feasibility of ForCES and related specifications that are being standardized by IETF ForCES working group.