Network Device Route Processing with FlexE Slice Information
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network slicing technologies using Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) interfaces do not effectively utilize slice information for path computation, leading to uncertainty about the fragmentation capabilities of outbound interfaces along a computed path, which may not meet the service traffic packet requirements.
Innovation Solution
A route processing method where a network device determines corresponding slice information based on the port receiving a route, and carries this information when forwarding the route, ensuring that network devices on the route advertisement path obtain the slice information supported by the entire path, thereby computing forwarding paths that meet packet service requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network device uses IGP for path computation without incorporating slice information, then the path computation process is simple and fast, but the fragmentation capabilities of outbound interfaces cannot be guaranteed to meet service requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining slice information at each network device based on the port receiving the route. This slice information is then carried forward in the route advertisement process, so that when path computation is performed, the necessary fragmentation capability information is already available without requiring complex real-time analysis of each interface along the path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces slice information as an intermediary element that mediates between the simple IGP path computation process and the complex requirement of ensuring fragmentation capabilities. This slice information acts as a carrier that transports the necessary service requirement constraints through the routing process, enabling compliance verification without fundamentally changing the IGP computation mechanism.
2Reliability
If the network device carries slice information along the route advertisement path, then path computation can ensure fragmentation capabilities meet requirements, but the route processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slice information is determined preliminarily at each hop based on the receiving port's characteristics, rather than requiring time-consuming analysis during path computation. This pre-determination approach ensures fragmentation capability assurance while minimizing additional processing time during the critical path computation phase.
3Loss of information
If the network device determines slice information based on receiving ports, then the entire path's slice information becomes known, but the route processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the slice information determination into discrete port-level decisions. Each network device determines slice information independently based on its receiving port characteristics, rather than requiring global analysis of the entire path. This segmentation simplifies the processing complexity at each node while ensuring complete slice information availability along the path through the cumulative effect of individual port determinations.
Data Source
AI summary
In a route processing method, a first network device obtains one or more routes having a same destination address, and including a first route. Slice information corresponding to the one or more ports is determined based on one or more ports that are on the first network device and that receive the one or more routes. The first network device sends an updated first route to a second network device, where the updated first route carries the slice information and the destination address. After a route is received, corresponding slice information is determined based on a port that receives the route, so that slice information supported by a path from a network device to a route starting device is determined. The determined slice information is carried when the route is forwarded, so that a network device on a route advertisement path can obtain the slice information supported by the entire path.