FE-brick: Re-definition and Re-design of FE Model in Next-Generation Router Architecture

In traditional router, it usually consists of forwarding element (FE) and control element (CE). However, there is a tight coupling between FE model and logical functions, thus restricting service innovation and user customized ability. In this context, we explore the insightful prospect of functional integration between logical function-based FE model and strategy-driven FE model to propose a new FE model. In this paper, we firstly propose an idea of FE-Brick model for next-generation router architecture, which includes two types of elements: logical function-based FE (LFFE) and strategy-driven FE (SFE). LFFE is a collection of logical functions, which is the same as FE model in traditional routers; and SFE uses flow-strategy to determine forwarding behavior of each packet. FE model can be regarded as a cluster of SFEs and LFFEs, where these elements are optionally interconnected in the similar way as the “building block” game. At last, we establish two demos on FE-Brick model and further evaluate their performance.