"Last month's feature, 'Strategies for Managing Growing Networks,' presented the general principles of dynamic routing, described internal and external routing protocols such as OSPF, RIP, and BGP, and explained how dynamic routing can be used build extensible and flexible networks that respond quickly and automatically to changes in network topology and traffic. Of course, protocols are useless without hardware and software to animate them. Routers from Cisco, Juniper, and other vendors can fit the bill. But there is an alternative to commercial products. Enter PC hardware, the Linux operating system, and GNU Zebra, an open source project that turns a run-of-the-mill Linux machine into a capable--and interoperable--network router. This month, let's run with the Zebra--and give Cisco a run for its money..."
