FRRouting (FRR): The Dynamically Managed Routing Protocol Suite
FRRouting (FRR) is an IP routing protocol suite that powers networks of varying scales, from small office/home office (SOHO) networks to massive data center infrastructures and internet service providers (ISPs). It is an open-source project hosted on GitHub which illustrates the significant contribution of open-source software to the advancement of network management.
Project Overview:
FRRouting aims to provide a high quality, multiprotocol routing package that is fully compliant with industry-standard control plane protocols. Developed and maintained by a community of networking professionals worldwide, it addresses the need for dynamic management of internet protocol (IP) routes, offering support for standard routing protocols over IPv4 and IPv The primary users of this project include network engineers, system administrators, and any tech professional dealing with network management and protocols.
Project Features:
The project furnishes a plethora of key features and functionalities, such as dynamic updates of the kernel routing table, redistribution between different routing protocols, and an integrated, scriptable shell for interactive control and configuration. The project supports a wide variety of standard and extended routing protocols, including BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, EIGRP, RIP, and PIM. These features facilitate device-level IP networking, connecting disparate systems efficiently and enabling internet delivery.
Technology Stack:
FRRouting is primarily crafted using C programming language, due to its efficiency and performance. It uses Git for version control and the GNU build system for managing the build process. Given the complex and performance-critical nature of routing protocols, the effective use of these technologies serves as a key pillar of the project's success.
Project Structure and Architecture:
The project is organized into different modules, each corresponding to a specific routing protocol or functionality. This modular architecture enables separation of concerns and promotes maintainability. FRRouting also utilizes multithreading and non-blocking I/O for performance-critical functionalities, reflecting the use of advanced computing principles.
Contribution Guidelines:
Being an open source project, FRRouting warmly welcomes contributions from the global network of open-source enthusiasts. The GitHub page for the project provides comprehensive guidelines for bug reporting, feature suggestions, and code contributions. The project also follows strict coding standards, with documented commitment to certain coding style guides, and employs a thorough review process to ensure high-quality contributions.
