EVPN VPLS Interoperability via Primary Mirrored Pseudowire Labels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current networking architectures face challenges in achieving interoperability between Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) and Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) with all-active multi-homing, leading to issues like MAC flip-flopping and excessive loading on VPLS PE nodes, which are not addressed by existing solutions that often require the use of gateways or limit EVPN PEs to single-active mode.
Innovation Solution
EVPN PE nodes are provisioned to operate in an all-active mode without gateways, using primary and mirrored pseudowire labels to ensure consistent MAC address association and forwarding, eliminating MAC flip-flopping and allowing seamless interoperability with VPLS PE nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If EVPN PE nodes operate in all-active mode without gateways, then network efficiency and forwarding optimality are improved, but MAC address association consistency deteriorates (MAC flip-flopping occurs)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pseudowire label space into two distinct parts: primary pseudowire labels and mirrored pseudowire labels. Each EVPN PE node is assigned a primary label for its own use and learns mirrored labels from other EVPN PE nodes. This segmentation allows each node to consistently associate MAC addresses with the correct pseudowire label (primary for locally originated traffic, mirrored for remotely originated traffic), eliminating MAC flip-flopping while maintaining all-active forwarding capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If gateways are deployed to ensure MAC address consistency, then MAC flip-flopping is eliminated, but capital expenditures and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the gateway component from the network architecture by implementing MAC address association consistency directly at the EVPN PE nodes through the primary/mirrored pseudowire label mechanism. This allows EVPN PE nodes to operate in all-active mode without requiring external gateways to mediate MAC address learning and forwarding, thereby reducing capital expenditures and simplifying network complexity while maintaining MAC address consistency.
3Stability of the object's composition
If EVPN PEs are limited to single-active mode, then MAC address association consistency is maintained, but network versatility and multi-homing capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic role assignment where EVPN PE nodes can transition between primary and mirrored roles based on traffic direction. Each node dynamically uses its primary pseudowire label for locally originated traffic and learned mirrored pseudowire labels for remotely originated traffic. This dynamic mechanism enables all-active multi-homing capability while maintaining MAC address association consistency, as each node's forwarding behavior adapts to the traffic flow direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a frame at a Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) provider edge (PE) node via an attachment circuit link, wherein the frame is to be forwarded to a Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) Service (VPLS) PE node; determining whether the EVPN PE node is a designated forwarder for the attachment circuit link; forwarding the frame using at least one primary pseudowire label based on a determination that the EVPN PE node is the designated forwarder for the attachment circuit link; and forwarding the frame using at least one mirrored pseudowire label based on a determination that the EVPN PE node is not the designated forwarder for the attachment circuit link. The EVPN node can be in an all-active multi-homed configuration with at least one other EVPN PE node for a customer edge device.