IP over 2000: where have we been and where are we going?

Sometimes it seems that the whole field of IP-based network technology is moving at a pace that will out-distance even its most ardent and enthusiastic followers. Trying to keep up with all the new ideas, acronyms, vendor announcements, IETF happenings and conferences can create strong feelings of inadequacy. At times, buried under piles of industry literature and staring at hundreds of unread e-mails, I ask myself, “How did the simple process of forwarding an IP packet from one device to another become so complicated?” Before embarking on an earnest attempt to answer that question, I first step back and reflect on where this field has been and what has been accomplished. From there, we can look at where it might be going