Route control
The Internet was not designed for performance, and Internet connectivity costs vary widely. The nature of the peering relationships among ISPs and the main Internet routing protocol, Border Gateway Protocol, are at the core of the challenge of improving the Internet's reliability and cost effectiveness.
Route control is a category of products and services that addresses these fundamental Internet performance and cost barriers for organizations that have multiple ISP connections. Route control requires the addition of a route control device, or platform, running route control software, alongside the organization's Internet-facing routers, plus the installation of management software.
Getting started with route control products is fairly straightforward. It typically involves a hardware device installed on premises and, in some cases, a dedicated connection to the vendor's network operations center to send and receive Internet performance data.
The device usually sits out of the flow of data, peering with the edge routers using standard BGP. Once the hardware is installed, the company sets preferences for cost and performance. The route control product then can optimize the company's ISP connectivity. Reporting lets the organization tweak its preferences to obtain the ideal blend of cost and performance.
From Route control picks most effective ISP, Network World Tech Update, 11/19/01.
Additional resources
Intelligent route control improves BGP
Network World Tech Update, 2/11/02.
Bringing home the gold with route control
How it will help service providers. The Bleeding Edge, 3/4/02.
The alchemy of route control
Why it might be worth a look. Network World editorial, 6/3/02.
Breaking news: Route control
The latest news on the technology and vendors from Network World Fusion.
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