OpenVRoute: An open architecture for high-performance programmable virtual routers

Abstract

In recent years network virtualization has emerged as an essential instrument for spurring innovation and consolidating resources. As a key technology, router virtualization enables the operation of multiple logical router instances within a single box. However, both commercial hardware solutions and PC-based software prototypes exhibit limitations in terms of programmability, memory, forwarding performance or port density. In this paper, we present OpenVRoute, an architecture that satisfies the requirements for router virtualization by combining the advantages of commodity switches and server hardware while mitigating their inherent shortcomings. Open-VRoute provides a transparent binding between the logical and physical router resources, using OpenFlow as a glue between the individual architecture components. OpenVRoute employs a split forwarding plane, caching high data-rate flows in an external OpenFlow switch while processing low-volume traffic in a software datapath hosted on a server. We exemplify the OpenVRoute architecture, and evaluate the performance and scalability of the main components.