Hello, I am a student considering participating in Google Summer of Code program. I came across Stephen Hemminger's idea of implementing a RSTP posted on http://developer.osdl.org/dev/soc/ and found it interesting. In attachment there's my proposal, which I just submitted to google. Please share your comments. -- tadeusz andrzej kad?ubowski -------------- next part -------------- Linux RSTP implementation Google SoC Application Name: Tadeusz Andrzej Kad?ubowski Email: yess @ hell org pl IRC: yess @ freenode The aim of this project is to create a Linux Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol implementation as proposed by Mr Stephen Hemminger on http://developer.osdl.org/dev/soc/ The system will be written in C and work as a daemon. It will be configurable with a command line tool similar to brctl (probably a modified brctl). The tests will be a set of scripts - most likely perl or python unit testing library will be used. SCHEDULE OUTLINE ================ The project will take 13 weeks. We can assume 40 hours in a working week. My current duties occupy 2 days a week. May: Reading and learning (IEEE standard, linux/net/core/, linux/net/bridge/, brctl sources, maybe documentation from UNH mentioned on http://developer.osdl.org/dev/soc/) June: Messages from and to the kernel via rtnetlink interface Sending, receiving and parsing of BDPU messages Graph theory logic Exam in numerical mathematics will occupy my attention for about a week. :| July: State machine logic Timers User interface Framework for unit testing Numerous test units August: Building scripts, packaging and release (if standalone) More documentation More testing DELIVERABLES ============ * Linux RSTP daemon * Command line tool to operate it * Kernel bridge module patch in order to notify the userland (as needed) * Set of test units * Documentation (both for end-user and concerning inner structure) MY USEFUL SKILLS ============== * 6 years of C experience on Linux (with tools such as gdb, strace, vallgrind etc.) * General idea of ,,Unix way of doing things'' and devotion for simplicity. * Excellent understanding of graph theory, finite state automata and other necessary theoretical concepts. * Some experience with low-level things (I took a small part in developing acpi4asus Linux driver having its main developer as a roommate) * Enthusiasm for scripting languages (mostly python, bash and perl) BIO + MOTIVATION ================ I'm a third year student at a CS faculty of the University of Gda?sk, Poland. Having completed most of my courses on straight A's I feel perfectly capable of completing this project. I've been using Linux since '99. One of my computers operated as a STP-enabled bridge in my high school network - that's where I learned basic networking concepts. In those times I also learned C, which now I am perfectly familiar with. Recently I've completed third semester of Cisco CCNA course. This course gave me insight into the world of embedded networking equipment and taught me a lot about numerous aspects of networks. On the other hand their proprietary attitude seemed odd and cumbersome to me. I started to see a great potential for Linux-based networking equipment.
