The Systems Problem

The systems problem suggests that there is a lot more to building RBB networks than simply connecting an Access Network to a Home Network. Lots of other pieces must be integrated. Among these are the following:

• Web caches, to distribute Web pages

• Video server caches, to provide streaming video services

• Changes to DNS to identify the optical cache to access

• Multicast-enabled routers, to provide broadcast services on point-to-point networks

• Authentication servers, such as TACACS, to verify users

• DHCP servers, to supply IP addresses

• Tunneling servers, to provide equal access

• Firewalls, to filter packets from consumer systems

• Network address translators, to support private address spaces

• Network management systems, to diagnose and repair end-to-end systems