Multi-gigabit intel-based software routers

The purpose of this article is to present the results of deployment and benchmarking of multi-gigabit Intel-based software routers in real-world applications. There are two ways to achieve the router bandwidth over 1 Gbit: using aggregation of multiple 1 Gbit Ethernet adapters and using 10 Gbit Ethernet NICs. Software routers are substantially cheaper then hardware routers which make them a cost effective alternative for small scale ISPs, universities and other organizations. Recommendations on router design and software configuration are provided in the article as well as the results of comparison of technical characteristics of both types of routers. The publication about the implementation of graphics cards (GPUs) in software routers is adduced.