Proposal: CNS-0551703 PI: McKeown, Nick Institution: Stanford University
Investigators at Stanford University will conduct research leading to new tools to support teaching and research in networking software and hardware. The Virtual Network System (VNS) is a software tool that runs on commodity personal computers with which students can develop network elements such as routers and protocols. It allows users to develop new services and protocols, while assuring that each is independent of the network. Students can run multiple instances of routers or other elements while insulating other students and the Internet from mistakes. The NetFPGA tool uses programmable FPGAs in a custom design supported with commercial design and programming tools. Students can create router hardware and explore projects such as hardware/software designs.