Dynamic Packet Reroute in Redundant Network Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packet networks face challenges in providing high availability and redundancy due to the exponential increase in customer edge devices, making it costly and impractical to implement Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) signaling for redundancy, especially in large-scale legacy systems with hardware constraints.
Innovation Solution
A method for dynamic rerouting of packets in packet networks using a redundancy system where network devices act as active or standby units, determining the state of links and forwarding packets accordingly without requiring updates to customer equipment, utilizing Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation Group (MC-LAG) and Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) for seamless traffic steering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If LDP PseudoWire signaling software is implemented for redundancy, then high availability and service resiliency are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses VRRP to create a virtual router copy that represents the active router. When the active router fails, the standby router with the copied virtual router configuration takes over seamlessly, providing redundancy without requiring complex LDP signaling software on each device
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the customer edge device's default router more universal by implementing VRRP, which allows any router in the redundancy group to assume the active role and handle traffic for multiple customers, rather than requiring dedicated LDP signaling capabilities on each device
2Reliability
If LDP PseudoWire signaling software is migrated on large scale legacy CEs, then service resiliency is improved, but cost and feasibility worsen due to hardware constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses VRRP, a simpler and more cost-effective protocol compared to LDP PseudoWire signaling. This allows legacy customer edge devices with hardware constraints to participate in redundancy schemes without requiring expensive software upgrades or additional hardware resources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the protocol parameter from LDP PseudoWire signaling to VRRP, which has lower resource requirements and is more compatible with legacy hardware, thereby enabling redundancy implementation on large scale customer edge devices without costly upgrades
3Reliability
If VRRP is used for redundancy at the core, then service availability is improved, but routing table updates are required at each CE device causing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the virtual router as an intermediary between the physical routers and customer edge devices. The virtual router absorbs the complexity of failover management, allowing customer edge devices to simply route traffic to the virtual router's stable IP address without needing to manage complex routing table updates
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for enabling dynamic reroute in a redundant system is provided. A network device is operative to determine whether a state of a link that couples the first network device with a third network device is active. In response to determining that the state of the link is active causing a payload of a packet to be forwarded towards the third network device through the second network interface of the first network device based on a second IP address; and responsive to determining that the state of the link is not active causing the second payload to be forwarded towards the third network device through a third network interface of the second network device based on the second IP address.