Bowman: a node OS for active networks

Abstract
Bowman is an extensible platform for active networking: it layers active-networking functionality in user-space software over variants of the System V UNIX operating system. The packet processing path im- plemented in Bowman incorporates an efficientand flexible packet classifi- cation algorithm, supports multi-threaded per-flow processing, and utilizes real-time processor scheduling to achieve deterministic performance in user- space. In this paper we describe the design and implementation of Bowman; discuss the support that Bowman provides for implementing execution en- vironments for active networking; discuss the network-level architecture of Bowman that can be used to implement virtual networks; and present performance data. Bowman is able to sustain 100 Mbps throughput while forwarding IP packets over fast Ethernets. I. INTRODUCTION Active networks provide a programmableuser-network inter- face that supports dynamic modification of the network' s be- havior. Such dynamic control is potentially useful on multiple levels: For a network provider, active networks have the potential to reduce the time required to deploy new protocols and network services. At a finer level of granularity, active networks might en- able users or third parties to create and tailor services to

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