I do agree here. If you are not moving a lot of data then something like BSD or Vyatta may be a good alternative. You do still have possible reboots required and things you would not see as often with a hardware-appliance model. However, for cheaper than the cost of 1 appliance you could build in redundancy. I guess the question is how many PPS you plan to push, whether you have regularly scheduled maintenance windows that you could bring it down for a reboot, and whether the additional maintenance involved still keeps you in the black? I am a big proponent of open source every thing. Although, I am a bigger proponent of stability and less maintenance. If you could prove out a software-based solution against the cost of a hardware solution then I don't see any reason not to go that route. -----Original Message----- From: Fletcher Kittredge <fkittred@staff.gwi.net> Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2010 17:21:57 To: William Herrin<bill@herrin.us> Cc: <nanog@nanog.org> Subject: Re: Software-based Border Router Another big problem for Linux/Unix-based routers of this size/cost is upgrade-ability. If you need to add cards, you are going to have to bring the router down for extended periods. Likewise, a software upgrade can be a bigger deal than on a purpose designed router. If a router is mission critical, Linux/Unixed-based has issues over extended periods. regards, Fletcher On Sun, Sep 26, 2010 at 4:35 PM, William Herrin <bill@herrin.us> wrote:
On Sun, Sep 26, 2010 at 6:15 AM, Nathanael C. Cariaga <nccariaga@stluke.com.ph> wrote:
Thank you for the prompt response. Just to clarify my previous post, I was actually referring to Linux/Unix-based routers. We've been considering this solution because presently we don't have any budget for equipment acquisition this year.
What's your time worth?
Quagga on Linux is a fine software, but messing with the idiosyncrasies is far more time consuming than buying a Cisco 2811, adding enough RAM to handle BGP, configuring it once and forgetting about it.
Also bear in mind that while your ISP's engineers can help you configure your Cisco router, Quagga is a mystery to them. You can still get help... but not from someone who also knows how the ISP's network is configured.
This is not a problem if you have lots of experience with BGP routing. Do you?
Regards, Bill Herrin
-- William D. Herrin ................ herrin@dirtside.com bill@herrin.us 3005 Crane Dr. ...................... Web: <http://bill.herrin.us/> Falls Church, VA 22042-3004
-- Fletcher Kittredge GWI 8 Pomerleau Street Biddeford, ME 04005-9457 207-602-1134