“Do you have a virtual router?” Discuss how to use virtual routers.

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Abstract

This session is a discussion-based session that explores the benefits of software routers and virtual routers.

A virtual/software router is not depends on dedicated and specialized hardware like ASIC and etc. It is characterized easily to improve the routing function with low cost. Therefore virtual/software routers was hot topics at past JANOG meetings[^1][^2].

On the other hand, white-box switch hardware has matured, and open-source software such as SONiC is beginning to spread widely as a switch OS. And also hot topic is the P4 language, which can programmatically configure the data plane using white-box switches[^3][^4][^5].

As the technologies surrounding these white-box switches have matured, they are becoming more open to proprietary network equipment and competition is driving down costs.

This trend looks like the characteristics of software/virtual routers have been replaced by white-box switches.

However, virtual/software routers have benefits that are different from white-box switches,such as hardware independence.

In this session, we would like to discuss appropriate usage of virtual/software routers from various perspectives such as operators and network equipment vendors and etc.

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[^1]: https://www.janog.gr.jp/meeting/janog33/program/vr.html
[^2]: https://www.janog.gr.jp/meeting/janog37/program/saha.html
[^3]: https://www.janog.gr.jp/meeting/janog42/program/SP-P4
[^4]: https://www.janog.gr.jp/meeting/janog45/program/srv6sfc/
[^5]: https://www.janog.gr.jp/meeting/janog45/program/pktfwd/