1. Active Networking at Washington Univ.
Project Goal
Design and
Implement a Prototype of a
Scalable, Active Networking Platform
supporting Traffic at
Gigabit Rates
John DeHart
Washington University in St. Louis

2. Goals
Building a High Performance Active Network Platform consisting of
Scalable Hardware Platform
Distributed Code Caching
Streamlined Software Platform
Applications
Automatic Network Protocol Deployment / Revision
Large-Scale reliable multicast
Congestion control for real-time video and audio
High-performance media gateways for real-time multicast audio/video sessions

3. Status: ANPE Hardware FIXED Active Network Processing Element (ANPE)
Pentium CPU
>= 32 MB
APIC: 1.2 Gbit/s (Out for Fab)
Experimental FPGA added to data path
Development System has been built
and is being tested.
Problems with the embedded system
programming environment have
been uncovered and are being
pursued with the vendor.
FIXED

4. Status: ANPE Software Modules and APIs all defined
Implementation has begun

5. ANPE Software Using ABone
Anetd detects ANTS identifier and passes packet on to ANTS
Gate in IP Processing detects ANEP/ANTS Header and passes packet to anetd
IP performs routing function and sends packet out via Packet Scheduler
Device Driver detects IP Packet and passes it to IP stack via Packet Classifier
ANTS Capsule executes and sends the capsule out via IP

6. EOY ‘98 Pre-Prototype
Plugin Instance processes packet and passes resulting packet to output via Packet Scheduler
Incoming Packet with a SAPF Identifier is detected in Device Driver and passed to Selector Dispatcher.
Next Step: Add Selector Dispatcher
Selector Dispatcher passes it directly to previously created Plugin Instance
User Space
Kernel Space
Code Server sends Plugin to Plugin Requester
Active Plugin Loader installs Plugin Class in Plugin Control Unit and informs AFD that it has been loaded
AFD creates Plugin instance from Class
Active Plugin Loader sends request for new Plugin to Plugin Requester
Gate in IP Processing detects DAN flow Packet
Plugin Requester sends Plugin to Active Plugin Loader
AFD passes packet to Plugin Instance
Administrator tells DAN Plugin Mgmt where to find Code Server
Plugin Requester sends request for new Plugin to Code Server
Plugin Instance processes packet and passes resulting packet to output via Packet Scheduler
Active Plugin Loader passes code server configuration command to Plugin Requester
AFD processes Packet and determines what Plugins are needed
AFD requests needed Plugin from Active Plugin Loader

7. EOY ‘98 Pre-Prototype
User Space
Kernel Space