Carlos M. Pignataro

The Segment Routing Architecture

Network operators anticipate the offering of an increasing variety of cloud-based services with stringent Service Level Agreements. Technologies currently supporting IP networks however lack the flexibility and scalability properties to realize such evolution. In this article, we present Segment Routing (SR), a new network architecture aimed at filling this gap, driven by use-cases defined by network operators. SR implements the source routing and tunneling paradigms, letting nodes steer packets over paths using a sequence of instructions (segments) placed in the packet header. As such, SR allows the implementation of routing policies without per-flow entries at intermediate routers. This paper introduces the SR architecture, describes its related ongoing standardization efforts, and reviews the main use-cases envisioned by network operators.

Network-Embedded Social Network Protocols

Social network protocols and media are transforming the IT landscape. New IT professionals are integrating social media channels such as instant messaging and microblogging into their professional lives. A natural evolution arises starting with people using social networking to connect to each other, then embedding the same capabilities so that they can connect to devices. Once social networking is embedded into the devices, new solutions to network management challenges such as scale, security, and reliability can be found. Additionally, just like with people, devices can form peer groups with other, similar devices to automatically workaround problems, optimize operations, and improve network performance. In this chapter, we will explore these benefits of network-embedded social media technologies.