real hardware router VS linux router

[Valdis.Kletnieks at vt.edu (Valdis.Kletnieks at vt.edu)]

On Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:30:16 EST, Deric Kwok said:
> Hi All
> 
> Actually, what is the different hardware router VS linux router?

I'm continually amazed by the number of people who manage to conflate
two entirely different issues here.

There's *TWO* axes here:

           |   PC-class hardware   |  routing-blade-architecture hardware
-----------+-----------------------+-----------------------------------
proprietary|                       |
-----------+-----------------------+----------------------------------- 
open-source|                       |

Kinda like that.  A Juniper box (which is a BSD running on something that's
*not* PC-class hardware) is a prime example that it's not "hardware versus
linux" - it's two separate questions.

1) Is PC-class gear "good enough"? Do you have the hardware interfaces
needed, and the I/O backplanes? Or is something with more oomph needed?

2) Does the software running on the box support the feature set you need?
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