Reconfigurable Router Modules Using Network Protocol Wrappers

The ongoing increases of line speed in the Internet backbone combined with the need for increased functionality of network devices presents a major challenge for designers of Internet routers. These demands call for the use of reprogrammable hardware to provide the required performance and functionality at all network layers. The Field Programmable Port Extender (FPX) provides such an environment for development of networking components in reprogrammable hardware. We present a framework to streamline and simplify networking applications that process ATM cells, AAL5 frames, Internet Protocol (IP) packets and UDP datagrams directly in hardware. We also describe a highspeed IP routing module "OBIWAN" built on top of this framework.