The Routing module implements the Network Routing layer described
by the Digital Network Architecture. It routes messages in the
network and manages the message packet flow. The Routing module
components provide the following functions:
o Routing-determines packet paths. A path is the sequence
of connected nodes and links between a source node and a
destination node. The combined knowledge of all the network
Routing layer modules of all the nodes in a network is used to
determine the existence of a path, and route the packet to its
destination. The routing component at a routing node has the
following specific functions:
- Extracts and interprets the route header in a packet.
- Performs packet forwarding based on the destination
address.
- Performs packet fragmentation where necessary.
- Manages the characteristics of the path and if a node or
link fails on a path, finds an alternate route.
- Interfaces with the Network Routing Subnetwork Dependent
sublayer to receive reports concerning a circuit or node
that has failed or the subsequent recovery of a circuit or
node.
- Performs packet reassembly at the destination.
- Returns error reports to the source where necessary, for
instance when the destination is unreachable or when the
packet would have needed to be fragmented but segmentation
permitted was not set in the packet. Segmentation permitted
is always set in data packets generated by DNA nodes.
However, non-DNA nodes may do otherwise.
o Congestion control-manages the resources used at each packet
switching node (each node that permits route-through).
o Packet lifetime control-bounds the amount of time a packet can
exist in the network.
o Initialization-identifies the adjacent node and the
adjacent node's network routing layer. It also performs node
verification, if required.
o Dynamic circuit management-determines when to dial calls, when
to hang up calls, and (on dynamically assigned circuits) which
DTE address to dial. It exists only on dynamically established
data links.
Additional Information:
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