Policy Routing Using Linux - Softcover

Marsh, Matthew

9780672320521: Policy Routing Using Linux

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0672320525 ISBN 13: 9780672320521

Publisher: Sams, 2001

Policy Routing Using Linux
Traditional IPv4 routing is summarized as "All routing is a destination driven process." When a router looks at an IPv4 packet it cares only about the destination address in the header of the packet. It uses this destination address to make a decision on where to forward the packet. But what if you want to route packetsdifferently depending not only on the destination addresses but also on other packet fields such as source address, IP protocol, transport protocolports or even packet payload?This is Policy Routing and this book tells you how to do it.

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Review:

Linux machines, with their low cost and practically infinite configurability, work fantastically as specialised network nodes like routers and firewalls. Matthew Marsh has done a lot of research into the applicability of Linux as a router operating system--specifically to unusually complex IPv4 routing requirements--and has compiled his findings into Policy Routing Using Linux. It's a rich read for anyone interested in working with iproute2 or the Routing Policy Database (RPDB). In fact, many of the concepts Marsh discusses are applicable to routers generally; you'll find this book conceptually helpful (if not practically so) even if you do your policy routing on other kinds of equipment.

As policy routing is not a fundamental concept you must understand in order to interconnect networks, this is not an introductory text. Marsh assumes knowledge of IP addressing and routing concepts, and some familiarity with access control and packet filtering. Given that base, the author explores policy routing capabilities and limitations with great enthusiasm. He typically fills a couple of pages with conceptual text and occasional diagrams, and then jumps to examples. These alternate between command and configuration-file listings with illuminating commentary. Special topics, such as the ability of Linux's policy routing utilities to interact with dynamic routing protocols, are dealt with adequately in side bars. --David Wall

Topics covered: The application of policies to IPv4 and IPv6 routing problems, with specific solutions outlined for the Linux operating system. Detailed coverage goes to iproute2 and the Routing Policy Database (RPDB). Examples are numerous and valuable.

Synopsis:

Policy Routing on Linux is an advanced book covering all critical aspects of Linux Policy Routing from the authors' extensive experience. It provides documentation and best practice usage for implementing policy routing under Linux with references and comparisons to Cisco IOS policy routing. Readers of this book will be able to: Understand the theory and basic concepts of policy routing; design and install a policy-routed network under IPv4 on a Linux based network using the IP utility for Linux; differentiate between and integrate policy routing structures and dynamic routing protocols; analyze and tune complex policy routed networks on Linux and possibly Cisco networks; and understand the role of policy routing structures and implementations within the Linux IPv6 network stack.

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