Spawning networks

• Published in: IEEE network Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 16 - 29
• Main Authors: Campbell, A.T., Kounavis, M.E., Villela, D.A., Vicente, J.B., De Meer, H.G., Miki, K., Kalaichelvan, K.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.07.1999; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Automatic control; Communities; Computer architecture; Computer networks; Control systems; Environmental management; Genesis; Internet Protocol; Kernel; Kernels; Life cycle engineering; Network operating systems; Networks; Operating systems; Programming; Protocols; Quality of service; Research and development management; TCPIP; Transport; Virtual networks; Wireless networks
• ISSN: 0890-8044; 1558-156X
• DOI: 10.1109/65.777438

The deployment of new network architectures, services, and protocols is often manual, ad hoc, and time-consuming. We introduce "spawning networks," a new class of programmable networks that automate the life cycle process for the creation, deployment, and management of network architectures. These networks are capable of spawning distinct "child" virtual networks with their own transport, "parent's" network resources and in isolation from other spawned networks. Spawned child networks represent programmable virtual networks and support the controlled access to communities at users with specific connectivity, security, and quality of service requirements. In this article we present a framework for the realization of spawning networks based on the notion of the Genesis Kernel, a virtual network operating system capable of creating distinct virtual network architectures on the fly. We discuss the motivation and principles that underpin spawning networks and focus on the design of the transport, programming and life cycle environments, which comprise the main architectural components of the Genesis Kernel.