The problem
Today's routing suites have stagnated.
- —New features take months, built on decades-old code that has lost its architectural integrity.
- —Every existing suite is 100,000+ lines of unsafe C or C++.
- —A single incorrect line can crash the whole device, or leave it running in an unknown or insecure state.
- —These problems are endemic to C and C++ and cannot be fixed by tooling.
Why Rust
The first new systems language in 30 years.
- +Memory safety guaranteed at compile time, so a whole class of crashes and vulnerabilities can't happen.
- +The performance of C, without its fragility.
- +The right foundation for the “ideal” IP router architecture: simple and modular.
Founder
Nick Carter
A 30-year veteran of the networking industry, Nick has designed, implemented and operated some of the largest IP networks in the world, and spent over 20 years implementing IP routing protocols and forwarding engines.
After years of discussing the “ideal” router architecture with colleagues, he experimented with Rust, decided it was the future of systems programming, and quit his job to build it. He spent the first 18 months writing the initial implementation of the Flock Networks IP routing suite.
The team
220+ years of combined IP routing protocol experience.
C/C++ routing protocol veterans working alongside Rust language experts, with system testing by a team of experienced IP routing QA engineers.
Jamie BarberLinkedIn →
QAFunctionality
Robert HanzlLinkedIn →
OSPFBFD
Prem Anand HaridossLinkedIn →
QAPerformanceScale
Corentin HenryLinkedIn →
Async RustgRPCBGPPolicy Engine
Mitesh KanjariyaLinkedIn →
BGPRIB
RR
Reshad RahmanLinkedIn →
System APIRIBYANG model
Mandeep RohillaLinkedIn →
BGPRIB
PR
Pat Ruddy
BGPBFDOSPF
Sebastian ZiebellLinkedIn →
Rust consultancySystem API
In production
Reliable, fast and secure, 24 x 7.
0 crashes
or unexpected restarts in production
1000s
of network devices in production
3 regions
North America, EMEA and Asia
Fast
devices developed and deployed quickly
“Flock delivered what was required to offer a fully functional routing stack in a contemporary package, along with the ability to support the unique innovations required for Graphiant.”
From a clean slate to production
2019 → today- 2019Flock Networks foundedNick starts the initial implementation from a clean slate.
- 2021The team formsRouting protocol veterans and Rust experts join.
- 2022Into productionPE, P and Route Reflector deployments go live.
- TodayThousands of devicesRunning 24 x 7 across North America, EMEA and Asia.
Build your next device on FIRE.
The source code is available to license.