BGP Route Reflector Best Path Selection Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional BGP Optimal Route Reflection (ORR) is computationally wasteful due to the need for route reflectors to execute the BGP best path algorithm multiple times and the use of unnecessary ordered comparison tests, especially in large networks with many client routers and candidate paths.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where the route reflector determines if certain comparison tests can be skipped based on the selection process, selectively configuring the BGP algorithm to start from a lowest cost path test if policy tests do not exclusively determine the best path, reducing the number of tests required across all client routers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the route reflector executes the BGP best path algorithm multiple times (once for itself and once per client router), then customized best paths can be selected for each router, but computational complexity and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the BGP best path algorithm execution by identifying a common subset of comparison tests (tests 1-7) that can be executed once for all routers, and separating out the router-specific tests (test 8 and beyond) that need to be executed individually for each client router. This segmentation eliminates redundant executions of the common tests while preserving customized path selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary execution of the common comparison tests (tests 1-7) to determine a preliminary best path before executing the remaining router-specific tests. This preliminary action identifies paths that are optimal for all routers, allowing the system to skip unnecessary individual router computations when the preliminary best path satisfies all clients.
2Ease of operation
If the BGP best path algorithm uses a fixed set of ordered comparison tests for all routers, then the selection process is simplified, but unnecessary tests are executed even when some tests are already determined to be unnecessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by executing only the necessary subset of comparison tests for each router rather than the complete fixed set. The system determines that tests 1-7 are common to all routers and executes them once, then selectively executes tests 8 and beyond only when needed for individual routers, avoiding excessive computation of unnecessary tests.
3Manufacturing precision
If the route reflector determines best paths for each client router individually, then optimal paths are selected for each router's perspective, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the common comparison tests (tests 1-7) into a single execution that serves all client routers simultaneously. By combining these tests into a shared computation step, the system achieves accurate customized path selection for each router while significantly reducing total processing time compared to executing the complete algorithm separately for each router.
Data Source
AI summary
A network includes a route reflector peered with client routers. From a perspective of the route reflector, a best path to the destination address is selected by applying to candidate paths ordered comparison tests that progress from policy tests through one or more additional tests until the best path is selected. A determination is made as to whether the best path was selected based on the policy tests exclusively. If the best path was selected based on the policy tests exclusively, the best path is assigned to each of the client routers. If the best path was not selected based on the policy tests exclusively, from a perspective of each client router, a respective best path is selected by applying to the candidate paths the one or more additional tests, and the respective best paths are assigned to the respective client routers.