EROS:Extensible Routing Software Platform for Distributed Network Processor Unit Based Systems
一种基于分布式网络处理器系统的路由软件平台

Since Network Processor Unit (NPU)combines the high performance of ASIC with the flexibility of a tradi- tional RISC, researchers widely construct high-capacity network devices via distributed NPU architecture. But the dif- ferent implementing approaches and versatile APIs NPUs provide may cause tremendous troubles for system software designers. Moreover, there is a trend towards ading new set of services to modem IP routers at an increasingly rapid pace. Our response to this situation is to define and implement a hardware and Operation System independent, distribu- ted and extensible routing software platform called EROS (Extensible Routing Operation System). EROS is a modular- ized and layered system. It comprises of five logical layers: System Management Layer, Control & Signal Layer, OS Adaptation Layer, Forwarding & Processing Layer and Data Forwarding Adaptation Layer. EROS innovatively utilizes Data Forwarding Adaptation Layer to hide concrete hardware forwarding details and thus can be used in different NPU systems. This paper presents the architecture design of EROS and introduces some of the implementing issues, espe- cially the implementation of Data Forwarding Abstraction Layer. This paper also demonstrates how EROS is implemen- ted on a 128Gbps NPU-based high performance router, which has been approved by China' s Ministry of Information Industry. The experiments show EROS could deliver excellent performance without any impacts on the protocol con- formability.