Control Plane and System Interaction

Abstract

At a conceptual level, packetC capabilities can be categorized as data plane capabilities, which involve examining, changing, and routing packets and control plane capabilities, which involve displaying system-level values and messages. In some systems, the two planes may be on separate boards or on distant components in a far-flung system. In others, such as a PC-based emulation system, the two sets of capabilities might execute on the same hardware. Thus, packetC specifies control plane capabilities in a general way, while allowing considerable latitude in how they are implemented