In other industries, open-source technology is well suited for server-based routing applications, including virtualization, Fabbi added. He noted that virtualized router applications are limited only by developers' imaginations. "Sometimes it's something as simple as a distributed print server; other times it's video distribution caching."

Ready for the Enterprise?

Matthias Machowinski, an analyst at Infonetics Research in Campbell, Calif., said he believes that open-source routers are now capable of handling enterprise-level workloads. "If you have reasonable requirements -- a regular-size office or a normal amount of traffic -- then performance-wise, they should be able to handle the traffic load," he said. The only exceptions he cited are large companies that run an extraordinary amount of traffic, such as video content distributors.

Open-source routers are also starting to hold their own on the features front, Machowinski said. "They started out not being as feature-rich as some of the mainstream commercial [products], but open-source router vendors have narrowed that gap," he said.

Open-source routers come in three basic forms: software that transforms a standard PC or server into a combination router and firewall, firmware that can be inserted into an existing router, and appliances that come with open-source routing software preinstalled. In addition to Vyatta, DD-WRT and IProute, open-source routing technologies include Xorp, downloadable at Xorp.org; and pfSense, a free, open-source distribution of the FreeBSD operating system customized for use as a firewall and router.

Despite a steadily rising profile and a growing number of adherents, open-source routers aren't likely to topple the market status quo anytime soon. That's because the open-source field remains microscopic compared with the market share held by the top proprietary vendors, particularly router giant Cisco, which has about 80% of the overall market. But even Cisco has recently begun making overtures in the open-source world.

Edwards is a technology writer in the Phoenix area.