EVPN UMR Role Negotiation for Mixed Router Domains
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UMR mechanisms in EVPN networks require all routers to support UMR capabilities, and lack auto-discovery, leading to loss of scaling benefits when non-compliant routers are present, and do not provide a mechanism for network operators to identify UMR-capable devices.
Innovation Solution
Implement an UMR auto-discovery mechanism that allows EVPN routers to advertise their UMR capabilities and distribute appropriate route lists based on UMR roles, supporting both UMR-capable and legacy devices within a network domain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If UMR mechanism is implemented to improve EVPN MAC scaling, then MAC address advertisement overhead is reduced, but all EVPN routers must support UMR capability which increases system complexity and reduces compatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic role assignment where EVPN routers can be assigned as UMR originators, installers, or both based on their capabilities and network configuration. This dynamic classification allows the system to adapt to mixed environments with both UMR-capable and legacy devices, resolving the contradiction between reducing MAC advertisement overhead and maintaining compatibility with legacy devices that don't support UMR
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the EVPN router population into different functional roles (UMR originators and UMR installers) based on capability. This segmentation allows UMR-capable devices to benefit from reduced MAC advertisement overhead while legacy devices continue to operate with traditional MAC address advertisement, thus maintaining overall system compatibility while achieving scaling benefits where possible
2Quantity of substance
If UMR routes are distributed to all EVPN routers, then MAC scaling is improved, but the mechanism lacks auto-discovery capability making it difficult to identify UMR-capable devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where EVPN routers advertise their UMR capability (originator, installer, or both) through BGP EVPN routes. This allows the network to automatically discover and identify which devices support UMR, resolving the contradiction between distributing UMR routes for MAC scaling and the difficulty of detecting UMR-capable devices without manual configuration
3Loss of information
If all remote domain MAC+IP routes are distributed to Gateway, then complete routing information is available, but the number of routes overwhelms the NVEs within the DC
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential routing information needed for MAC scaling by implementing UMR routes that represent aggregate unknown MAC destinations rather than distributing every individual remote domain MAC+IP route to the Gateway. This extraction approach maintains routing information completeness for unknown MACs while dramatically reducing the number of routes, thus resolving the contradiction between having complete routing information and avoiding route overwhelm
Data Source
AI summary
A UMR auto-discovery mechanism which allows a gateway EVPN router to advertise a UMR route and to suppress redistribution of remote domain MAC-IP routes. In one embodiment, upon joining a local EVPN domain of a network, a network device (an EVPN router) advertises its UMR capability, which may include UMR installer capability or UMR originator capability. The UMR-capable devices in the network are also advertised to the newly added network device. A UMR originator (e.g., gateway) with knowledge of the UMR capabilities of the devices in the network then generates and sends a route list to the devices, where the route list includes a UMR route, or MAC/IP routes, or both, depending upon whether all of the network devices are all UMR-capable, none are UMR-capable, or the devices include both UMR-capable and non-UMR-capable devices, respectively.