Internet Router HistoryInternet Router History

The first Internet RouterThe first Internet Router In the late 1960s to 1989 Interface Message ProceIn the late 1960s to 1989 Interface Message Proce

ssor (ssor (IMPIMP) was the ) was the predecessor of the routerpredecessor of the router. The . The IMP was the first generation of gateways for ARPIMP was the first generation of gateways for ARPANET (ANET (the first packet network the first packet network ), developed by ), developed by LeonLeonard Kleinrockard Kleinrock in BBN (link). in BBN (link).

For APRANET in 1969, BBN Interface Message ProFor APRANET in 1969, BBN Interface Message Processor (cessor (IMPIMP) did the packet routing.) did the packet routing.

Honeywell 516 minicomputer inside had only 6,0Honeywell 516 minicomputer inside had only 6,000 words of software (12K core memory), monito00 words of software (12K core memory), monitored network status and statistics. Cost: $82,200red network status and statistics. Cost: $82,200

The first transmission between UCLA and SRI tooThe first transmission between UCLA and SRI took place on October 29, 1969. k place on October 29, 1969.

Larry RobertsLarry Roberts: architect of the Internet.: architect of the Internet.

Leonard Kleinrock(It's another cool artifact of history in the (It's another cool artifact of history in the back room, awaiting installation in the new back room, awaiting installation in the new Computer History Museum exhibition hall.)Computer History Museum exhibition hall.)

History of the routerHistory of the router The idea was explored in more detail, The idea was explored in more detail,

with the intention to produce a prototype with the intention to produce a prototype system, as part of two contemporaneous system, as part of two contemporaneous programs. programs. One was the initial DARPA-initiated program, One was the initial DARPA-initiated program,

which created the TCP/IP architecture in use which created the TCP/IP architecture in use today.today.

The other was a program at Xerox PARC to The other was a program at Xerox PARC to explore new networking technologies, which explore new networking technologies, which produced the PARC Universal Packet system, produced the PARC Universal Packet system, due to corporate intellectual property due to corporate intellectual property concerns it received little attention outside concerns it received little attention outside Xerox for years.Xerox for years.

History of the routerHistory of the router ARPANET (Advanced Research ProjectARPANET (Advanced Research Project

s Agency Network) was created by ARs Agency Network) was created by ARPA of the United States Dept. of DefenPA of the United States Dept. of Defense during the Cold War. It was the worse during the Cold War. It was the world’s ld’s first packet switching networkfirst packet switching network..

The International Network Working GrThe International Network Working Group (INWG) inspired the idea of the rooup (INWG) inspired the idea of the router in 1972.uter in 1972.

History of the routerHistory of the router Some time after early 1974 the first Some time after early 1974 the first Xerox rXerox r

outersouters became operational. became operational. The first IP router was developed by VirginiThe first IP router was developed by Virgini

a Strazisar at BBN Technologies during 19a Strazisar at BBN Technologies during 1975-1976.75-1976. By the end of 1976, three By the end of 1976, three PDP-11PDP-11-based router-based router

s were in service in the experimental prototyps were in service in the experimental prototype Internet.e Internet.

The first multiprotocol routers were indepThe first multiprotocol routers were independently created in 1981 by endently created in 1981 by WilliamWilliam YeagerYeager at at Stanford and by and by Noel ChiappaNoel Chiappa at at MITMIT; b; both were also based on PDP-11s .oth were also based on PDP-11s .

History of the routerHistory of the router Virtually all networking now uses TCP/IP, bVirtually all networking now uses TCP/IP, b

ut multiprotocol routers are still manufactut multiprotocol routers are still manufactured. ured.

They were important in the early stages of They were important in the early stages of the growth of computer networking, when the growth of computer networking, when protocols other than TCP/IP were in use. protocols other than TCP/IP were in use.

Modern Internet routers that handle both IModern Internet routers that handle both IPv4 and IPv6 are multiprotocol, but are siPv4 and IPv6 are multiprotocol, but are simpler devices than routers processing Appmpler devices than routers processing AppleTalk, DECnet, IP, and Xerox protocols.leTalk, DECnet, IP, and Xerox protocols.

History of the routerHistory of the router From the mid-1970s and in the 1980s, From the mid-1970s and in the 1980s,

general-purpose general-purpose mini-computersmini-computers serv served as routers. ed as routers.

Modern high-speed routers are highly Modern high-speed routers are highly specialized computersspecialized computers with extra with extra harhardwaredware added to speed both common added to speed both common routing functions, such as packet forwrouting functions, such as packet forwarding, and specialised functions such arding, and specialised functions such as as IPsec encryptionIPsec encryption..

History of the routerHistory of the router There is substantial use of There is substantial use of LinuxLinux and and UnixUnix s s

oftware based machines, running oftware based machines, running open soopen sourceurce routing code, for research and other a routing code, for research and other applications. pplications.

Cisco'sCisco's operating system was independent operating system was independently designed. Major router operating systemly designed. Major router operating systems, such as those from s, such as those from Juniper NetworksJuniper Networks, , HHuawei Technologies uawei Technologies and and Extreme NetworkExtreme Networkss, are extensively modified versions of Unix , are extensively modified versions of Unix software.software.

Diagram of a RouterDiagram of a Routerhttp://www.usr.com/education/net7.asp

http://www.howstuffworks.com/router.htm/printable

• The Internet is one giant network composed of thousands of smaller networks, so the use of routers are needed for faster communication.