Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Part I Enabling technologies
- Part II Network architectures
- 6 Host identity protocol (HIP): an overview
- 7 Contract-switching for managing inter-domain dynamics
- 8 PHAROS: an architecture for next-generation core optical networks
- 9 Customizable in-network services
- 10 Architectural support for continuing Internet evolution and innovation
- Part III Protocols and practice
- Part IV Theory and models
- About the editors
- Index
- References
9 - Customizable in-network services
from Part II - Network architectures
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Part I Enabling technologies
- Part II Network architectures
- 6 Host identity protocol (HIP): an overview
- 7 Contract-switching for managing inter-domain dynamics
- 8 PHAROS: an architecture for next-generation core optical networks
- 9 Customizable in-network services
- 10 Architectural support for continuing Internet evolution and innovation
- Part III Protocols and practice
- Part IV Theory and models
- About the editors
- Index
- References
Summary
One of the key characteristics of the next-generation Internet architecture is its ability to adapt to novel protocols and communication paradigms. This adaptability can be achieved through custom processing functionality inside the network. In this chapter, we discuss the design of a network service architecture that can provide custom in-network processing.
Background
Support for innovation is an essential aspect of the next-generation Internet architecture. With the growing diversity of systems connected to the Internet (e.g., cell phones, sensors, etc.) and the adoption of new communication paradigms (e.g., content distribution, peer-to-peer, etc.), it is essential that not only existing data communication protocols are supported but that emerging protocols can be deployed, too.
Internet architecture
The existing Internet architecture is based on the layered protocol stack, where application and transport layer protocols processing occurs on end-systems and physical, link, and network layer processing occurs inside the network. This design has been very successful in limiting the complexity of operations that need to be performed by network routers. In turn, modern routers can support link speeds to tens of Gigabits per second and aggregate bandwidths of Terabits per second.
However, the existing Internet architecture also poses limitations on deploying functionality that does not adhere to the layered protocol stack model. In particular, functionality that crosses protocol layers cannot be accommodated without violating the principles of the Internet architecture. But in practice, many such extensions to existing protocols are necessary.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Next-Generation InternetArchitectures and Protocols, pp. 179 - 196Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011