Rational ATM -- Internet SuitE (RAISE) Project

The purpose of RAISE is to create a combined hardware/software platform suitable for high-performance internet routing and switching research. High-performance is defined as the support of 6 or more OC-3 and DS-3 interfaces. The RAISE product will be open IPv4, IPv6 and ATM software with fast path support for a fully documented COTS hardware base (the IBM NWays product). The rational integration ATM technology into Internet routers will be the theme of ISI's own research with the platform. A further objective is to include the RAISE platform in DARTnet2 and to operate high link-speed and high fan-out topology in DARTnet2.

• In its first year or two, RAISE will identify and port fast path aspects of the forwarding suites developed by DARTnet and by ISI in our BOAT (Basic Open ATM) project onto nodes with numerous, high data-rate interfaces, provided, along with freely distributable hardware interfacing documentation, by IBM. The initial approach is thus "proof-of-concept" for the platform architecture.
• As the forwarding engine becomes operational, we will use the testbed incorporating it compare empirically an integration of IP with ATM in which ATM has been simplified and aggregated (made rational) with other approaches. We will also use the platform to develop performance optimization for router handling of realtime traffic, based on the availability of the ATM chips and fabric in the fast path.
• In both instances, our approach is innovative because it will bring a great deal of ATM experience and standards knowledge to bear on the problems that the complex operations of current standard ATM pose for very large-scale, high-performance internets. Rational integration is needed for the _long-term_ requirements placed upon internetworking technology by military applications such as worldwide distributed simulation.