PC Routers (was Re: /24s run amuck)

Thu Jan 15 07:28:49 UTC 2004

And there is software mirror.

Purchase SuperMicro U1 server, with 2 9 Gb SCSI disks (hot swappable).
Install Linux SuSe with RAID-1.
Install WEBMIN for remote management.

(Of course, it's still worst than Cisco IOS, but it works).

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <alex at pilosoft.com>
To: "Michel Py" <michel at arneill-py.sacramento.ca.us>
Cc: <nanog at merit.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 5:55 PM
Subject: RE: PC Routers (was Re: /24s run amuck)

>
> > The main issues I have with zebra are:
> > 1. The need to install an OS on the host.
> > 2. The need to harden it.
> > 3. The possible hard disk failure (having *nix on ATA flash is no better
> > given the actual limits in the number of times one can write to flash).
>
> There are linux and freebsd distributions that aim to minimize the "OS"
> layer to suit router better. Linux also has a filesystem that spreads
> writes across the flash area, so you are not likely to write single block
> 100000 times in your life.
>
> <snip>
>
> >
> > How does zebra deal with QOS/priority/custom/queuing/LLQ? With CAR? With
> > IDS? With route redistribution to/from OSPF or ISIS? With multichassis
> > multilink PPP? With spanning tree on multiple VLANs? With peer groups?
> > With SNMP?
> >
> > How does the host deal with 802.1q trunks? With Channel interfaces? With
> > hot-swapping a line card? With TCP MD5?
> >
> > These are the questions I ask myself when I pick a routing platform.
> > Cheap is of no use to me if it does not do what I need.
> The above are not Zebra issues: It is the host platform.
>
> For qos/priority/custom queueing/CAR, Linux has tc, and FreeBSD has ALTQ,
> which in my opinion, are at least as good as vendor C and vendor J
> equivalents.
>
> For everything else, I'll answer for Linux host platform, as that's what
> I'm most familiar with:
>
> IDS = snort, again, competive to proprietary solutions
> ISIS = beta status on quagga, not recommended.
> Route redistribution = yes
> multichassis ppp = no
> spanning tree = yes
> per-vlan-spanning-tree = yes
> dot1q = yes
>
> hotswap = *should* work, with PCI hot-plug, but you may have to
>           make certain configuration changes manually post-swap
>
> TCP MD5 = yes in 2.6
>