Optimizing Network Routing: Performance Analysis of OSPF in FABRIC Testbed

Networking research needs testbeds that are flexible, fast, and efficient. FABRIC is a modern platform built for advanced experiments, offering better customization and performance. This paper compares FABRIC and GENI, focusing on how well they handle routing protocols, especially Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), a widely used method for finding the best network paths. The study looks at control overhead, which is the extra data used for routing, and convergence time, which shows how quickly the network adapts to changes. By testing OSPF on FABRIC, we see how it compares to GENI in handling network updates. The results show that FABRIC lowers overhead and speeds up convergence, making it a better choice for research and real-world use. Its flexible design also makes it future-ready, supporting faster and more efficient networking in evolving systems. FABRIC’s ability to adapt to changing network conditions makes it a reliable choice for future innovations.