EVPN Multicast Source Handling with Preference-Based Routes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multicasting approaches in communications networks lead to traffic loss and extraneous bandwidth usage in multi-homed networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing control plane flooding routing tables with preference values to guide multicast receivers in selecting efficient data transmission routes, utilizing Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) to manage multi-homed networks, and generating secondary routing tables to handle device inoperability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional multicasting approaches are used in multi-homed networks, then data transmission can be achieved, but traffic loss and extraneous bandwidth usage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing multiple routing tables (first routing table and second routing table) with different next-hop device configurations before data transmission occurs. When a multicast receiver needs data, the system can immediately select from pre-configured alternative routes without causing traffic loss or excessive bandwidth usage during route determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of route selection by introducing a mechanism to switch between different routing tables based on the operational status of peer devices. The system monitors device operability and dynamically changes which routing table is active, thereby avoiding traffic loss when devices fail and preventing extraneous bandwidth usage by selecting optimal paths.
2Productivity
If control plane flooding routing tables are implemented with preference values, then efficient route selection is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating a second routing table that is a copy of the first routing table but with next-hop device roles reversed. This copying approach simplifies the system compared to maintaining entirely separate routing logic, as the second table can be generated systematically from the first, reducing the complexity burden while still enabling efficient route selection through preference values.
3Reliability
If alternative routes are prepared for device failure, then reliability is improved, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares alternative routes in advance by configuring both first and second routing tables before any device failure occurs. This preliminary configuration ensures that when a peer device becomes inoperable, the system can immediately switch to the alternative routing table without resource-intensive real-time route discovery or recovery procedures, thus improving reliability while minimizing actual network resource consumption during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for handling multicast traffic in Ethernet Virtual Private Network multi-homed networks includes receiving a first route table for a first route, determining that the first route table is associated with another peer device in the multi-home network, generating a second route table for a second route, determining a route to transmit data and the determined route is the first route or the second route based on the first preference value and the second preference value, and transmitting the data using the determined route.