Unified IP Internetworking

Networks are changing and growing more complex than the data networks of the 1990s. The Internet Protocol (IP) is shaping the future of unified network systems. With end-to-end QoS (Quality of Service) and policy based management mechanisms, today’s networks are more intelligent and sophisticated. Now, more than ever before, the means of data and telecom transport unified into a single, more efficient, network infrastructure. Such a unified network has so far been extensively adaptable with IP internet working techniques. Building such a state-of-the-art intermediator requires an in-depth understanding of IP as well as the behaviour and constraints of various traffic. Another and most important aspect of such a complex network is how to manage it. In this regard, policy enable networking (PEN) provides significant enhancement, automation and intelligence than that of an SNMP-based network. Now traffic can be controlled and managed according to the requirements of the users.

This chapter is specifically written for those who are interested in not only the routing technologies but also the trend of routing techniques. Although a number of books have been written about routing technologies, most of them have specifically addressed a protocol or two. Very few books have so far addressed the routing technologies in a complete manner. I have tried to accommodate as much “routing technology” information as possible in this one chapter. The wealth of information is enough for anyone to become conversant in the subject. The chapter is so designed that anybody with a first-hand approach will be able to understand the details about routing technology and its current trend. The chapter covers the beginning of the routing idea to its state-of-the-art protocols, which should be enough to make you conversant with the subject.

Networks are changing and growing more multifaceted than those of the 1990s. The merger mania of data and the telecom industries in 1999 created a new type of networking concept for information transport. It is now known as a converged network and IP is considered the best transport means of such a network system. With end-to-end QoS and policy-based management mechanisms, today’s network is more intelligent and sophisticated. Now, more than ever before, the idea of data and means of telecom transport are unified into a single, more efficient network infrastructure. Such a unified network has so far been extensively adaptable with the IP internetworking technique. Building such a state-of-the-art internetwork requires in-depth understanding of IP as well as of the behavior and constraint of various traffic. Another and most important aspect of such a complex network is how to manage it. In this regard, PEN provides significant enhancements, automata and intelligence than that of a network based on SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). Now traffk can be controlled and managed as per the requirements of the users.

There is no question that Voice over IP (VoIP) is one of the hottest topics in the telecom industry today. The equipment to packetize voice calls is available, and, for service providers, the economics of VoIP can be very compelling.