FlexE Protection Switching via Dynamic Link Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current FlexE network standards lack a protection switching mechanism that prevents service interruptions due to faulty links, leading to bandwidth waste as a dedicated protection link is required, even when no service is being transmitted.
Innovation Solution
A method where a network device selects an available link with sufficient bandwidth as a protection link from other links in the FlexE link group, allowing for dynamic switching of client services without pre-reserving a dedicated protection link, thereby avoiding bandwidth waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated protection link is pre-configured in the FlexE link group, then service protection switching can be performed when a link fails, but bandwidth resources are wasted because the protection link remains idle when no service is transmitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic protection link selection where any available link in the FlexE link group can serve as a protection link based on real-time service requirements and link status, rather than statically designating a dedicated protection link. This allows the system to adaptively allocate bandwidth resources while maintaining protection switching capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables any link in the FlexE link group to function both as a working link for service transmission and as a protection link for service backup, eliminating the need for dedicated protection links. This multi-functional approach allows bandwidth resources to be fully utilized while still providing service protection.
2Loss of energy
If no protection mechanism is implemented in the FlexE link group, then bandwidth resources are fully utilized for service transmission, but a single link failure causes the entire FlexE link group to stop working
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial redundancy by allowing any link to serve as a protection link only when needed, rather than maintaining full-time dedicated protection capacity. This provides just enough protection capability to prevent service interruption while minimizing resource waste during normal operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A protection switching method and system, and a network device are disclosed, and relate to the field of communications technologies. The method includes: if n links carrying a client service are unavailable in a FlexE link group, selecting, by a first network device from other links than the n links in the FlexE link group, at least one link as a protection link; sending, by the first network device, a calendar request to a second network device over the protection link; and receiving, by the first network device, a calendar acknowledge sent by the second network device over the protection link, and switching the client service, transmitted over the n links, to the protection link for transmission. In the present invention, an application requirement of the FlexE for protection switching is satisfied. In addition, because a dedicated link does not need to be reserved in a FlexE link group to serve as a protection link, use of a manner of selecting the protection link as required can effectively avoid a resource waste, thereby saving a bandwidth resource.