Recursive InterNetwork Architecture (RINA)

The Recursive InterNetwork Architecture (RINA) is a computer network architecture that unifies distributed computing and telecommunications. RINA's fundamental principle is that computer networking is just Inter-Process Communication or IPC. RINA reconstructs the overall structure of the Internet, forming a model that comprises a single repeating layer, the DIF (Distributed IPC Facility), which is the minimal set of components required to allow distributed IPC between application processes. RINA inherently supports mobility, multi-homing and Quality of Service without the need for extra mechanisms, provides a secure and programmable environment, motivates for a more competitive marketplace, and allows for a seamless adoption.

The principles behind RINA were first presented by John Day in his book Patterns in Network Architecture: A return to Fundamentals. This work is a start afresh, taking into account lessons learned in the 35 years of TCP/IP’s existence, as well as the lessons of OSI’s failure and the lessons of other network technologies of the past few decades, such as CYCLADES, DECnet, and Xerox Network Systems.

From the early days of telephony to the present, the telecommunications and computing industries have evolved significantly. However, they have been following separate paths, without achieving full integration that can optimally support distributed computing; the paradigm shift from telephony to distributed applications is still not complete. Telecoms have been focusing on connecting devices, perpetuating the telephony model where devices and applications are the same. A look at the current shows many symptoms of this thinking:

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