The potential of just-in-time compilation in active networks based on network processors

Byte-code representations in active networks provide architectural neutrality and code compactness; however, the resulting execution speed is typically poor due to interpretation overhead. This paper shows that the performance of capsule-based active networks can benefit from compiling active network programs into native network processor instructions at traversed routers (just-in-time compilation). A key aspect of the paper is to demonstrate that just-in-time compilers for active networks can be fast and small enough for applicability in the datapath of network processors. The approach has been implemented based on the SNAP active network framework for the PowerNP network processor.

[1]  Jonathan T. Moore,et al.  Safe and Efficient Active Packets , 1999 .

[2]  Yitzchak M. Gottlieb,et al.  Building a robust software-based router using network processors , 2001, SOSP.

[3]  Christopher W. Fraser,et al.  Code compression , 1997, PLDI '97.

[4]  L. Peter Deutsch.  A LISP Machine with Very Compact Programs , 1973, IJCAI.

[5]  Ron Cytron,et al.  Does “just in time” = “better late than never”? , 1997, POPL '97.

[6]  Simon Crosby,et al.  The Tempest: a framework for safe, resource-assured, programmable networks , 1998, IEEE Commun. Mag..

[7]  Bernhard Plattner,et al.  Router plugins: a software architecture for next-generation routers , 2000, TNET.

[8]  John V. Guttag,et al.  ANTS: a toolkit for building and dynamically deploying network protocols , 1998, 1998 IEEE Open Architectures and Network Programming.

[9]  Marianne Shaw,et al.  Active bridging , 1997, SIGCOMM '97.

[10]  Wei Li,et al.  Just‐in‐time optimizations for high‐performance Java programs , 1997 .

[11]  David L. Tennenhouse,et al.  The ACTIVE IP option , 1996, EW 7.

[12]  Scott Nettles,et al.  Practical programmable packets , 2001, Proceedings IEEE INFOCOM 2001. Conference on Computer Communications. Twentieth Annual Joint Conference of the IEEE Computer and Communications Society (Cat. No.01CH37213).

[13]  David Wetherall,et al.  Active network vision and reality: lessions from a capsule-based system , 1999, SOSP.

[14]  Craig Partridge,et al.  Smart packets: applying active networks to network management , 2000, TOCS.

[15]  Carl A. Gunter,et al.  PLAN: a packet language for active networks , 1998, ICFP '98.

[16]  Mostafa H. Ammar,et al.  Implementing protocols in Java: the price of portability , 1998, Proceedings. IEEE INFOCOM '98, the Conference on Computer Communications. Seventeenth Annual Joint Conference of the IEEE Computer and Communications Societies. Gateway to the 21st Century (Cat. No.98.

[17]  Eric C. R. Hehner.  Special Feature: Computer Design to Minimize Memory Requirements , 1976, Computer.

[18]  Ellen W. Zegura,et al.  An architecture for active networking , 1997, HPN.

[19]  R. D. Rockwell,et al.  Smart Packets for active networks , 1999, 1999 IEEE Second Conference on Open Architectures and Network Programming. Proceedings. OPENARCH '99 (Cat. No.99EX252).

[20]  Alec Wolman,et al.  The structure and performance of interpreters , 1996, ASPLOS VII.

[21]  David Wetherall,et al.  Active network vision and reality: lessons from a capsule-based system , 1999, OPSR.

[22]  John H. Hartman,et al.  Joust: A Platform for Liquid Software , 1999, Computer.