Distributed implementation of control protocols in routers and switches

摘要

A router uses a distributed implementation of a routing control protocol to route a packet between a plurality of computer networks. The router includes a control-plane having a control-plane processor to implement a central control portion of the control protocol and a plurality of forwarding-planes, each having a forwarding-plane processor, to implement an offload control portion of the control protocol. A back-plane connects the forwarding-planes to each other and to the control-plane. Together, these components route a packet based on the distributed implementation of the control protocol.