Routers vs. PC's for routing - was list problems?

E.B. Dreger eddy+public+spam at noc.everquick.net
Thu May 23 13:44:35 UTC 2002


VA> Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 09:26:41 -0400
VA> From: Vinny Abello


VA> I would have to say for any Linux/BSD platform to be a viable

I suppose it's been awhile since this thread has made the rounds,
so I'll jump in for a moment...


VA> routing solution, you have to eliminate all moving parts or
VA> as much as possible, ie. no hard drives because hard drives

EIDE-based flash drives have become very inexpensive.  Some
embedded systems use CompactFlash boards.


VA> will fail. Not much you can do about the cooling fans in

It's always nice if the CPU is happy with a "big enough" heatsink
and no fans.


VA> various parts of the machine though which routers also tend
VA> to have. Solid state storage would be the way to go as far as
VA> what the OS is installed on. You have to have something to

I think that 128 MB CompactFlash boards are < $60 new now.  I've
not priced drives recently, but I'm sure they're similar.


VA> imitate flash on the common router. Otherwise, if you can get
VA> the functionality out of a PC, I say go for it! The
VA> processing power of a modern PC is far beyond any router I

Yes and no.  The central CPU, yes.  The line cards, no.


VA> can think of. I suppose it would just be a matter of how
VA> efficient your kernel, TCP/IP stack and routing daemon would
VA> be at that point. :)

You left out one critical thing:  The bus/backplane.

For DS1 service or a few DS3s, standard PCI will work fine.  But
once the bus is maxed out... you need something bigger (wider or
faster bus) or better (cPSB ethernet midplane).

Has anyone had the privilege of playing with cPSB gear?  If so,
I'd like to know what your experiences were...

That said, I'm definitely a proponent of "roll your own" routers,
although the great prices on used turnkey gear might just make
RYO routing more expensive nowadays.  (I assume that anyone
clueful enough to build a router probably wouldn't need the
bigger vendor service contracts.)  Then again, if you need
different behavior and can cut code, RYO is more flexible.


--
Eddy

Brotsman & Dreger, Inc. - EverQuick Internet Division
Phone: +1 (316) 794-8922 Wichita/(Inter)national
Phone: +1 (785) 865-5885 Lawrence

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