[comp.protocols.tcp-ip] Network management for routers

datta@ee.utah.edu (Sanchaita Datta) (06/12/91)

Hi, 
I am new to the net management world. I have a few questions 
about Network Management for routers.

1.  Why is the 68000 microprocessor the preferred choice
    for routers?
2.  What are the advantages of using 68000 for snmp agent 
    for routers?
3.  Are there public domain sources for:
     -- UDP/IP stack
     -- SNMP agents for routers and HUBs

All the info. I can get would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx
Sanchaita
datta@ee.utah.edu

BILLW@MATHOM.CISCO.COM (William "Chops" Westfield) (06/15/91)

    1.  Why is the 68000 microprocessor the preferred choice
	for routers?

Flat address space well suited toward embedded applications requiring
large memory.  While the 386 might be made itno a reasonable router,
it has not been available for nearly as long as the 68000.  Nor have
the various RISC processors.

Network byte order == computer byte order for most popular protocols.

Many routers are based on BSD unix, which was widely available for 68000
architectures long before other processors.  Cisco's original router was
very similar to a SUN-1, for example (cisco being essentially the "other
half" of Stanford's SUN project) (hardware-wise.  The cisco software isn't
at all derived from unix.)

Better C compilers available (consequence of preceeding comment.)


    2.  What are the advantages of using 68000 for snmp agent 
	for routers?

I suspect that ASN.1 is sufficiently complicated that it removes any
particular advantage the 68k might have had.  That doesn't mean it isn't
still a better overall choice - a router has to do more than run SNMP.


    3.  Are there public domain sources for:
	 -- UDP/IP stack
	 -- SNMP agents for routers and HUBs

BSD TCP is sort of public domain, as are a number of PC packages for
the MAC, Amiga, etc.  A bunch of free software is available for BSD
unix, including some SNMP implementations from MIT and CMU.

BillW
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