Interconnect Node MAC Table Scalability via Ring Identifier Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interconnect nodes in interconnected ring networks face scalability issues due to large MAC tables resulting from learning numerous MAC addresses across multiple VPLS instances, leading to inefficient spatial reuse and bandwidth utilization.
Innovation Solution
Assigning a unique interconnect identifier (IID) to packets traveling between rings, allowing interconnect nodes to strip or forward packets based on this identifier, reducing the need to learn user node MAC addresses and maintaining only edge node MAC addresses, thereby minimizing MAC table size and enhancing scalability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If interconnect nodes learn all user node MAC addresses across multiple VPLS instances, then forwarding accuracy is improved, but MAC table size increases leading to scalability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the MAC address space by introducing a ring identifier that divides MAC addresses into different segments corresponding to different rings. This allows interconnect nodes to maintain separate MAC tables for each ring rather than a single large table containing all user node MAC addresses across multiple VPLS instances, thereby reducing the size of individual MAC tables while preserving forwarding accuracy within each ring segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ring identifiers as an intermediary element between the MAC address and the forwarding decision. Instead of directly learning all user node MAC addresses, interconnect nodes learn ring identifiers that mediate the forwarding process. This intermediary layer allows nodes to forward packets correctly without needing to maintain complete knowledge of all MAC addresses in the network, thus reducing MAC table size while maintaining forwarding accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If interconnect nodes maintain large MAC tables to support multiple VPLS instances, then service coverage is improved, but spatial reuse efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the network into distinct rings using ring identifiers, the patent enables independent spatial reuse within each ring. Traffic can be forwarded more efficiently within ring segments without requiring all nodes to learn all MAC addresses across the entire network. This segmentation maintains service coverage across multiple VPLS instances while improving spatial reuse efficiency by reducing unnecessary traffic propagation.
3Productivity
If interconnect nodes learn numerous MAC addresses for scalability, then forwarding capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ring identifier acts as an intermediary that simplifies the forwarding capability. Instead of requiring complex MAC table management for all user nodes, interconnect nodes only need to maintain simpler tables mapping ring identifiers to edge nodes. This reduces device complexity while preserving forwarding capability, as the ring identifier intermediary handles the complexity of multi-VPLS instance routing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for communication is used in a communication network that includes multiple ring nodes arranged in at least first and second ring networks, which are connected by one or more of the ring nodes serving as interconnect nodes. A data packet is accepted from a source user node served by the first ring network, for forwarding to a destination user node served by the second ring network. An identifier, which identifies an interconnect node in the first ring network through which the data packet is to be forwarded to the second ring network, is attached to the data packet in the first ring network. The data packet is forwarded over the first ring network, accepted at the interconnect node and, responsively to the identifier, forwarded from the interconnect node to the second ring network. The data packet is forwarded over the second ring network to the destination user node.