EVPN Tenant Multicast Transit with PIM Assert-Winner Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Redundant multicast traffic in Ethernet virtual private networks (EVPN) wastes network bandwidth due to the lack of support for Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) between provider edge routers, leading to inefficient data distribution.
Innovation Solution
Enable PIM on supplemental bridge domains in provider edge routers within the EVPN, using virtual routing and forwarding domains to map PIM across PE routers, and dynamically select an assert winner to eliminate redundant traffic using PIM mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If PIM is enabled on supplemental bridge domains in provider edge routers within the EVPN, then multicast traffic efficiency is improved by eliminating redundant packets, but device complexity increases due to additional configuration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces PIM protocol as an intermediary mechanism between provider edge routers in the EVPN. By enabling PIM on supplemental bridge domains, the system establishes a standardized communication protocol that allows routers to exchange multicast group membership information and coordinate traffic forwarding, thereby eliminating redundant multicast packets while maintaining manageable configuration complexity through protocol standardization
2Reliability
If provider edge routers send the same multicast traffic from the source to a receiver in another network, then network coverage is improved, but network bandwidth is wasted due to redundant traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multicast traffic forwarding paths by enabling provider edge routers to share multicast group membership information through PIM protocol. This allows the network to consolidate redundant traffic streams into a single optimized path, ensuring that the same multicast traffic is delivered to receivers without being duplicated across multiple parallel paths, thereby maintaining delivery reliability while reducing bandwidth consumption
3Productivity
If PIM is used among the PE routers in the EVPN, then multicast traffic optimization is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to configuration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements PIM protocol on supplemental bridge domains, which are existing multi-functional components in EVPN architecture that already handle various traffic types. By making these existing structures multi-functional (supporting both their original bridging functions and new PIM multicast functions), the patent achieves multicast traffic optimization without requiring entirely new dedicated configuration structures, thereby improving productivity while minimizing the impact on ease of operation
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for operating a network device are provided. In some embodiments, a method may comprise: forwarding multicast data packets from a source in a first customer network to a receiver in a second customer network; detecting that another PE device is forwarding the multicast data packets, wherein: Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) is enabled on supplemental bridge domain (SBD) logical interfaces of the PE device and the another PE device, the PE device and the another PE device are PIM neighbors, and the PE device and the another PE device communicate with each other and with the receiver using the PIM protocol through an Ethernet virtual private network (EVPN). The method may further comprise determining the another PE device is an assert winner from among the PE device and the another PE device based on at least one PIM assert message, the another PE device forwarding the multicast data packets.