Composition of IP switches and GSMP and IFMP protocols (1)

Among our commonly used devices, one is a router and the other is a switch. These two types of devices are all important for network management. So today we will give a brief introduction to the relevant content of the IP switch. These include GSMP and IFMP. To master the GSMP and IFMP protocols, we need to understand the concept of IP exchange. Next, let's take a look at the basic concepts of IP exchange.

Basic concepts of IP address exchange

IP exchange technology was first proposed by Ipsilon in 1996, also known as layer-3 switching technology, multi-layer switching technology, and high-speed routing technology. In fact, this is a mechanism that uses information in the layer-3 protocol to enhance the layer-2 exchange function. Because IP is not the only protocol to be considered, it is more appropriate to call it a multi-layer exchange technology.

An IP switch can be considered as a combination of an IP router and an ATM switch. The ATM switch removes the ATM signaling and Protocol and is controlled by an IP router. IP exchange provides two kinds of information transmission methods: one is ATM exchange, and the other is traditional IP exchange based on hop-by-hop. The method used depends on the data stream type. for continuous data streams with large traffic volumes, ATM exchange is used. For data streams with short durations and small traffic volumes, the traditional IP transmission technology is used.

IP address exchange technologies include:

Ipsilon IP exchange: Improves the ATM switch, removes the signaling and protocol in the ATM controller, and adds an IP exchange controller to communicate with the ATM switch. This technology is applicable to LAN and campus networks within the Organization.

Cisco tag switching: attaches a label to the data packet. This label is read from the switch node to determine the packet transfer path. This technology applies to large networks and the Internet.

3Com Fast IP Exchange (Fast IP): focuses on data policy management, priority and service quality. The Fast IP protocol ensures the required bandwidth for real-time audio or video data streams. Fast IP supports other protocols (such as IPX) and can run in other SWAP environments except ATM. The client must have software with priority levels.

IBM cluster routing-based IP address exchange ARIS (Aggregate Route-based IP Switching): similar to Cisco's label exchange technology, the packet is labeled to traverse the exchange network. ARIS is generally used in ATM Networks and can be extended to other exchange technologies. A border device is the entry to the ATM Switching environment and contains a route table mapped to the layer-3 virtual circuit. Allow more than two computers on the same end of the ATM network to send data through a virtual circuit, thus reducing network traffic.

ATM-based multi-protocol MPOA (MultiProtocol Over ATM): A specification proposed by the ATM Forum. When requested by the source client, the Routing Server provides the optimal transmission path after performing route computing. Then, a virtual switching circuit is created to bypass the subnet boundary without routing.

IP Exchange Protocol

An IP Switch uses two Protocols: GSMP (General Switch Management Protocol) and IFMP (Ipsilon Flow Management Protocol ). GSMP (RFC 1987/2297) is used in IP exchange controllers to control the ATM switching function. IFMP (RFC 1953) is used in IP switches, IP gateways, or IP hosts. It connects existing networks or hosts to an IP exchange network composed of IP switches to control data transmission.

GSMP Protocol

GSMP is part of the switching structure and is used for IP switching controllers. GSMP is an asynchronous protocol that sets the IP exchange controller as the master controller, and the ATM switch as a subordinate controlled device, so that the IP exchange controller is used to control the work of the ATM switch. The IP Switching Controller uses this Protocol to send the following requirements to the ATM Switch:

Establishes and releases virtual connections that pass through the ATM switch;

Add or delete an endpoint from the point-to-point connection;

Control the ATM switch port;

Query configuration information;

Query statistics;

Create a new VPI/VCI for a user stream.

GSMP works in the master-slave mode and request-response mode. The IP Switching Controller sends a request to the ATM switching hardware. The ATM switching hardware returns a response after the operation is complete.

GSMP has five basic message types: configuration message, connection management message, port management message, statistics message and event message.