Open Source Routers: A Survey

Abstract: Variety, size and complexity of data types, services and applications in Internet is continuously growing up. This increasing of complexity needs more powerful and sophisticated equipment's. One group of these devices that has essential role are routers. Some of vendors produce some elaborate and complex products but the commercial solutions are too closed and inflexible. The term "Open Source Routers" covers a lot of implementations of free software routers. Open Source Routers are solutions to overcome commercial solutions with closed platforms. In this article, we survey the existing implementations and a wide array of past and state-of-the-art projects on open software routers followed by a discussion of major challenges in this area.