BGP Colored Routing for Deterministic Data Center Traffic Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current BGP underlay routing in data centers fails to efficiently route different types of traffic over different subsets of links based on traffic type, leading to inefficient use of computing and networking resources and poor user experience due to inadequate service level agreements (SLAs).
Innovation Solution
Implementing BGP deterministic path forwarding by coloring BGP sessions based on logic fabrics and advertising colored routes to ensure traffic flows over appropriate logic fabrics, using colored transport tunnel end points and hop-by-hop routing to conserve resources and provide differentiated SLAs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional BGP underlay routing is used, then routing decisions are made based on shortest paths, but different types of traffic cannot be routed over different subsets of links based on traffic type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different colors to different BGP sessions and routes based on traffic type and logic fabric requirements. Each route is colored to indicate its intended usage, allowing traffic to be routed over different subsets of links according to specific traffic characteristics rather than uniformly across all links.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the routing control by introducing colored BGP sessions and colored routes that can be independently controlled and propagated. This segmentation allows different types of traffic to be routed through different paths by filtering and selecting routes based on their colors, thereby achieving traffic-type-specific routing.
2Productivity
If traditional BGP routing is used, then routing is based on path vectors and rules, but computing and networking resources are not efficiently utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coloring routes and BGP sessions before traffic forwarding occurs. Routes are colored and propagated in advance through the network, so that when traffic arrives, the coloring information is already in place to guide efficient routing decisions, eliminating the need for complex real-time routing calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes (coloring) to encode routing information and traffic type indicators within BGP routes and sessions. This coloring mechanism allows network devices to quickly identify and forward traffic along optimal paths without performing complex routing computations, thereby improving resource utilization efficiency.
3Reliability
If traditional BGP routing is used, then standard routing protocols are applied, but service level agreements cannot be adequately provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing color parameters to BGP routes and sessions that encode SLA information and traffic type characteristics. These color parameters allow network devices to differentiate between traffic types and enforce SLAs by selecting and forwarding traffic based on its color, thereby enabling adequate SLA fulfillment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through colored BGP sessions that propagate routing information with color indicators back through the network. This feedback allows network devices to learn about traffic types and SLA requirements and adjust their forwarding decisions accordingly, ensuring reliable SLA fulfillment.
Data Source
AI summary
A network device may originate a route, and may designate the route as a first colored route having a first color. The network device may advertise the first colored route to a first intermediate network device to cause the first intermediate network device to propagate the first colored route to an ingress network device over a first colored border gateway protocol session. The network device may designate the route as a second colored route having a second color, and may advertise the second colored route to a second intermediate network device to cause the second intermediate network device to propagate the second colored route to the ingress network device over a second colored border gateway protocol session.