DESCRIPTION
This course provides the fundamentals of Network Processing and identifies the evolution of networking equipment. It takes an in-depth look at Network Processors (NPs) spanning three decades, beginning with the 1980s. It also examines the advantages and disadvantages of various networking equipment. It describes NP hardware components and the basic NP Packet Processing flow. It discusses Packet Engines and focuses on microprocessor basics. It looks in great detail at each memory type and its characteristics. It identifies Hardware Coprocessor categories, which include function, placement levels and options for connecting Coprocessors to the Network Processor (NP). External Peripheral Interfaces are discussed including the four different interfaces and highlights bandwidth and clock rates. We will review the internal hardware architectural options that are used for Network Processors (NPs) and Packet Engines (PEs). An overview of each major Network Processor (NP) development tools category including Programming Tools, Diagnostic Tools, and Hardware Platforms completes this course.

PREREQUISITES
None