Hybrid Network Link Failure Detection via BFD and MPLS OAM Interworking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current network failure detection technologies, such as BFD and ITU MPLS OAM, are inadequate for detecting link failures in hybrid networks, particularly in inter-network links crossing multiple networks with different detection mechanisms, leading to incomplete failure notification and lack of interworking between BFD and MPLS OAM mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Establishing sub-BFD connections and end-to-end BFD connections between nodes in IP and MPLS network segments, along with tables correlating address pairs, LSP numbers, and connection identifiers, enables the interworking of BFD and MPLS OAM mechanisms to detect link failures across hybrid networks, allowing for transparent failure reporting and enhanced detection capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If BFD and MPLS OAM mechanisms are used separately in different network segments, then each mechanism can detect failures within its own network, but failure detection across hybrid networks is incomplete and interworking between mechanisms is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the BFD mechanism to enable it to operate across both IP and MPLS network segments. By allowing BFD packets to be forwarded through MPLS LSPs and by creating correlations between BFD sessions and MPLS LSPs, the BFD mechanism gains universal applicability across hybrid networks, resolving the limitation where each mechanism could only detect failures within its own network segment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces edge nodes as intermediaries that connect IP and MPLS network segments. These edge nodes establish sub-BFD connections within the MPLS network and correlate them with end-to-end BFD connections, acting as mediators that enable failure detection across the hybrid network boundary and facilitate interworking between the two mechanisms
2Reliability
If sub-BFD connections and end-to-end BFD connections are established with correlation tables, then comprehensive failure detection across hybrid networks is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes sub-BFD connections and creates correlation tables between BFD sessions and MPLS LSPs in advance, before actual failures occur. This preliminary configuration allows the system to quickly map failures to affected LSPs and applications when they occur, reducing the complexity of real-time failure analysis without sacrificing detection accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A method for detecting link failures between nodes in hybrid networks includes: establishing sub-BFD connections between nodes and edge nodes and establishing an end-to-end BFD connection. When a failure occurs in the sub-BFD connection of IP network segment, notify a peer node of the failure via the end-to-end BFD connection. When a failure occurs in the MPLS OAM mechanism of MPLS network segment, the edge node notifies the node of the failure via the sub-BFD connection. Another method includes: establishing sub-BFD connections between nodes and edge nodes. When one end of the sub-BFD connection failures, notify the IP network segment at the peer end of the failure via an extended MPLS OAM mechanism and notify the node of the failure via the sub-BFD connection of the IP network segment. An interworking between the BFD detecting mechanism and the MPLS OAM detecting mechanism in a hybrid network can be implemented.