Cisco Turns Routers Into Linux App Servers

symbolset writes "InternetNews is reporting that Cisco's new Application eXtension Platform turns several models of Cisco switches into Linux application servers. With certified libraries in C, Java and Perl, developers will be able to use a downloadable SDK to build their apps. The AXP server is just another module in a Cisco switch running Cisco's own derivation of a modern Linux distro (Kernel 2.6.x) specifically hardened to run on that particular hardware. Modules will include up to 1.4-GHz Intel Pentiums with 2 GB RAM and a 160 GB hard drive."

Cue the beowulf cluster jokes

Yes, it runs linux.

Yes, I know they're switches, not routers.

Now... anybody got any interesting applications for this?

Re:Cue the beowulf cluster jokes

Imagine a baowulf cluster of these...

Re:Cue the beowulf cluster jokes

The power of linux is mostly irrelevant here. OK, fine, a blade, and so what? It is more expensive than most 1U servers out there.

Now the power of having an API into the Cisco hardware and software is a completely different story. That may be something that is really interesting. It will allow moving many tasks that are now exclusive to big closed and expensive OSS systems to the frontline where they really belong.

By the way, this has been long coming. The first time I heard about this was circa 2003. Nice to see it finally making the light of day.

Ok so

I've read the marketing release. Now I ask /.

What can you do with this?

Before we get too excited

It might be interesting to read the data sheet [cisco.com].

10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity to router backplane

meh.

Re:

Yeah, backplane is kinda bummer.

As generic blade it looks like fail. Only one OS supported, probably expensive, Cisco license needed to build application packages.

Could be useful for making network appliances. Datasheet mentions IOS integration.

AXP environment require an authorization key

check this out

Q. How does one develop an application for the AXP service module?

A. Both existing and newly developed applications must be ported to the AXP runtime environment by packaging them using the AXP SDK, which ships with the AXP hardware and software. The SDK package tool creates installation packages that can be loaded on the AXP blade. AXP developers are authorized by Cisco using the AXP Development Partner Program and require an authorization key in order to perform packaging of software.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/routers/ps9701/qa_c67_463943.html

Re:

Time until first 419-scam server is loaded after the first one is placed on the net: less than 42 seconds...

NSLU2 is cool

Another Cisco gadget that's cool as a cheap linux box is the NSLU2 [wikipedia.org]. For $80, you get a pretty full-featured Linux system. It's the size of a paperback, and draws a negligible amount of power. I use mine as a music server. There's a very lively and helpful user community on IRC. There are various options for modifying or replacing the system it ships with to get a more general-purpose linux box, running off of an external flash drive.

No, you don't get it.

For $80, you get a pretty full-featured Linux system.

According to the Wikipedia entery you quote, its status is "Discontinued - no longer shipping."

Is this correct? Is there a followon to replace it?

Re:

For $80, you get a pretty full-featured Linux system.
According to the Wikipedia entery you quote, its status is "Discontinued - no longer shipping."

Is this correct? Is there a followon to replace it?

That must be the page for the V1 model, since the NSLU2 is alive and well [linksys.com] on LinkSys' product pages.

np: Underworld - Spikee (Underworld 1992-2002 (Disc 1))

What I want from Cisco

Great and I applaud them for doing something truly nerdy. What I am still waiting for is proper for a CISCO VPN client that works well under Linux and MacOS X, and not just Windows. It is irritating to enable firewall requirements, only to find that the only version that supports it is CISCO VPN Client for Windows.

Rant over, now you may mod me down.

Re:What I want from Cisco

The open source vpnc works pretty well on my linux box. I'm permanently vpn'd into my work's Cisco VPN concentrator. Granted it still can't do key rotation, so I have to reconnect it every 8 hours or so.

Cisco's linux support sucks in general, though. Their management software won't support it in any way. Ironic, really, since most work gets done in a terminal on cisco hardware. At least a serial port can't be made to be linux-incompatible.

Re:

Have you looked at Broadcom lately? They make Cisco look like God's gift to Linux. They are absolutely paranoid, anal even, about releasing any technical information about any of their chips. And Broadcom is everywhere.

Re:

They are getting there, though - I recently put in a new ASA 5540 pair set up for the AnyConnect SSL VPN client, which all of the documentation says "supports Linux". I had a problem getting the client working on Ubuntu, but when I opened up a TAC ticket

I don't get it

So this is a whole hardware server module that you stuff into a switch? Why?

A switch (or router, whatever) chassis is a ridiculously valuable piece of real estate... why would you want to spend that slot space plugging in PCs when they could just as easily be somewhere else, on the end of an ethernet cable?

Or is this intended for some highly specialized application where the linux system in tightly integrated with the host hardware in some way?

Re:I don't get it

I think it's Cisco trying to muscle in on the server market. When you think servers, you don't think Cisco. You think Sun, IBM, HP, Dell, etc. But when you think routers and switches, you think Cisco. So if a Cisco rep can come along and say, "Hey, look, this is a piece of networking hardware, not a server, but it can do everything a server can for less money. Plus if you get this it's one less piece of equipment that can fail on you," they can start getting orders for these. If you were a PHB, would you rather have two boxes that each do one thing, or one box that does everything, and is super-cool "new" gear to boot?

It's like DEC with the PDP-1. Everyone *knew* in those days that a "computer" was a big, room-sized monstrosity that cost upwards of a million dollars and required a staff of dozens just to run; people figured there was only demand for 10 or so of those things on the planet. But DEC didn't sell "computers," they sold "Programmable Digital Processors," so companies bought them. The rest is history, and I guess Cisco is banking on being able to pull off the same thing with their new gear.

Re:

Why would you need a switch if everything is housed in a single box?

The network is the computer

I didn't expect them to take the phrase "the network is the computer" quite so literally.

Copycat of 3Com OSN

Looks like Cisco is copying a 3Com innovation that has been available for over a year. 3Com OSM's are not only available for their routers, but also their 5500G switches.

http://www.3com.com/osn/ [3com.com]

MTBF?

The point on making the f/w an appliance is that it has a predictable operating profile and known MTBF and reliability.

By opening it up as an app server, you're encouraging turning your key gateway security device into a one-off, unique, unpredictable infrastructure component.

Clear the Confusion

Disclaimer- I work for Cisco as an Entrprise Sales Engineer

Lets clear a few terms up first-
Switch- Handles moving packets between endpoints on a single IP Subnet (layer 2 Device)

Router- Moves packets between different IP Subnets (Layer 3 Device)

Firewall- Applies security rules to routed packets

While the line is blurring physically between theses functions, as alot of switches can route and routers can switch, the logical functions are still the same. Your Standard Linksys/Dlink/netgear is a switch/router/firewall combined.

The AXP platform is a module that fits into our ISR router family, NOT into any switches.

Yes, the space in a router is valuable, that is exactly why companies want to get as much value as possible out of it. Most companies are looking for ways to consolidate and cetralize to reduce costs and ease management while adding features and functionality. Virtualization is the buzzword of the day.

Applications- Think about a company that has 200 remote offices that each have a server, if that server could be collapsed into a router blade (in combination with some other cisco technology like WAAS, that is possible) you reduce management, hardware and maintenance costs, electricity costs (green is also the word of the day) and provide the necessary services integrated into the heart of the network. Pretty cool.

It may be a little bit of "If you build it, they will come" so we built it, now let the programmers loose, change the game and build something cool.

Python not Perl

The APIs are available in C, Java, and Python. The article says this, but the summary is wrong.

Juniper already sells Linux-based systems

Juniper's Linux IPS Hits 10Gb/sec [internetnews.com]

Hardened my ass

Cisco claiming a piece of software they make is hardened is absurd. In the past, they've used Redhat 7.1 as the base for their appliances, shipping security software with 5 year old versions of openssh and Apache, and then tried to claim they were "hardened". After breaking in, they turn out to be off the shelf RH 7.1, just without cups running.

Cisco and software do not get along. They make ok hardware (overpriced, but it works), but they have never once made a good piece of software.