Jun 2018 – Nov 2021 · 3 yrs 5 mos · Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India · On-site

• Worked on Broadcom BCM 55045-based DSLAM platforms focusing on Layer 2 data plane and control plane integration.
• Implemented Ethernet bridging and VLAN-based forwarding features including C-VLAN, S-VLAN, and Q-in-Q (S+C VLAN) using Broadcom hardware.
• Enabled inband management connectivity support for DSLAM management connectivity.
• Developed and integrated control plane handling for essential protocols such as ARP, DHCP, MAC learning(Packet handling path).
• Gained experience in Linux kernel driver development and debugging while working with kernel-space drivers responsible for BCM 55045 configuration and management.
• Collaborated closely with Broadcom engineering teams to report issues, reproduce problems, provide detailed traces and debug logs, and drive resolutions via CSP (Customer Support Portal) and direct technical calls.

Jun 2016 – Jun 2018 · 2 yrs · Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India · On-site

• Worked on DSLAM platform software with a focus on system management, software lifecycle, and interface stack stability.
• Managed the full software lifecycle for dual-NT (Network Termination) DSLAM systems, including role negotiation (active/standby), image synchronization, configuration consistency, and switchover handling.
• Developed and maintained configuration sync mechanisms between NTs to ensure state persistence and seamless failover during resets or reboots.
• Implemented software download and upgrade flows for DSLAM line cards, along with coordinated activation, rollback handling, and safe restart mechanisms (soft reset, reload, warm restart).
• Investigated and fixed reset-safe storage issues in line cards to ensure reliable configuration restoration post-reset.
• Worked on the interface software stack including Ethernet → LAG (Link Aggregation) → VLAN → Port Layer integration, focusing on correct initialization, state propagation, and error handling across layers.
• Resolved complex bugs in interface stack behavior, such as incorrect link states, LAG member handling, VLAN mismatch, and dynamic interface update propagation.

Jun 2014 – Jun 2016 · 2 yrs · Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India · On-site

• Worked extensively on data plane forwarding architecture and control plane integration for DSLAM platforms using proprietary and IXP network processors.
• Implemented and optimized L2 forwarding features such as Ethernet bridging and VLAN-based switching (C-VLAN, S-VLAN, and S+C VLAN models) with hardware offload on network processors.
• Designed and validated QoS pipelines including classification, policing, shaping, and marking based on 802.1p/DSCP policies.
• Developed control-plane packet handling paths for IGMP, DHCP, ARP, MAC learning, MACsec learning, and other essential protocols using real-time RTOS environments (VxWorks, Integrity).
• Debugged and resolved complex throughput issues on the control plane including IGMP zapping latency, MAC learning performance bottlenecks, and resource exhaustion under high-scale multicast.
• Worked on embedded platforms powered by ARM and PowerPC cores, gaining deep experience in real-time systems including both soft and hard real-time constraints.
• Gained hands-on experience with ARM assembly for low-level debugging and performance tuning of real-time protocol tasks.
• Collaborated with system, hardware, and platform teams to ensure efficient coordination between data plane hardware and control plane software.

Jun 2011 – Jun 2014 · 3 yrs · Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India · On-site

• Worked on IEEE 802.1X authentication protocol support (control plane) and associated data plane behavior in DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) platforms.
• Implemented and debugged EAPOL (Extensible Authentication Protocol over LAN) message handling, authenticator state machine, and control/data plane coordination as per IEEE 802.1X standard.
• Supported secure port authorization mechanisms, VLAN assignment, and dynamic policy application on customer-facing ports.
• Investigated and resolved complex interoperability and timing issues involving RADIUS server interaction, MAC authentication bypass (MAB), and fallback scenarios.
• Analyzed live customer issues across access networks involving large-scale deployments, often under tight SLA constraints.
• Developed diagnostic tools and added extensive logging and traceability to support field debugging.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams (QA, support, chipset vendors) to deliver stable, interoperable 802.1X functionality across software and hardware platforms.