LAN Bridge C-VLAN Traffic Recovery in TRILL Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In TRILL networks, changes in the appointed forwarder (AF) attribute of routing bridges can lead to service interruptions due to the inability of LAN bridges to perceive these changes, resulting in prolonged service disruptions as existing methods rely on MAC address aging mechanisms with a default time of 10 minutes, affecting customer unicast service reliability and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that intercepts a trusted port connected to a routing bridge to determine if it is still forwarding traffic for a C-VLAN, and if not, broadcasts the traffic to a neighboring routing bridge to ensure continuous forwarding, thereby rapidly switching the forwarding path and minimizing service interruption time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the MAC address aging mechanism is used to recover service, then service can be recovered, but service interruption time is prolonged (10 minutes)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the LAN bridge monitors the operational status of routing bridges and dynamically adjusts traffic forwarding decisions. When a routing bridge's AF status changes, the LAN bridge detects this through status monitoring and receives feedback information, then switches the unicast forwarding path accordingly. This continuous feedback loop eliminates the need for lengthy MAC address aging timeouts, reducing service interruption time from 10 minutes to near-instantaneous recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the LAN bridge to autonomously detect routing bridge status changes and automatically switch forwarding paths without external intervention. The bridge monitors its own forwarding decisions and adapts to network changes independently, eliminating reliance on the MAC address aging mechanism and achieving rapid service recovery through self-managed path switching.
2Ease of operation
If the LAN bridge continues to send packets to the original AF after status change, then forwarding simplicity is maintained, but service interruption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static forwarding behavior into a dynamic one. Instead of maintaining a fixed forwarding path to the original AF, the LAN bridge dynamically adjusts its forwarding decisions based on real-time status monitoring of routing bridges. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain forwarding simplicity through automated path selection while ensuring service continuity by switching away from failed or status-changed AFs.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism enables the LAN bridge to receive status information about routing bridges and adjust forwarding behavior accordingly. When feedback indicates that an AF's status has changed, the bridge automatically switches the unicast forwarding path to an alternative route, thereby maintaining service continuity without complicating the forwarding operation through manual intervention.
3Stability of the object's composition
If unicast forwarding path is not switched after AF status change, then forwarding configuration is stable, but service interruption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic path switching capability that activates only when necessary. The forwarding configuration remains stable under normal conditions, but automatically adapts when AF status changes are detected. This dynamic response ensures service continuity by switching unicast forwarding paths in response to status changes while maintaining configuration stability during normal operation, eliminating the trade-off between stability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the forwarding path based on detected status changes. When an AF's status parameter changes, the LAN bridge modifies the forwarding path parameter to route traffic through alternative bridges. This parameter-based adaptation maintains forwarding configuration stability through automated parameter adjustment rather than structural changes, ensuring service continuity while preserving configuration integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a method and an apparatus for avoiding interruptions in an on-going service. A LAN bridge intercepts a trusted port connected to a first routing bridge; determines whether the first routing bridge is forwarding or has a permission to forward data flow from a C-VLAN according to a result of the interception; and if the first routing bridge is not forwarding or no longer has the permission to forward the data flow from the C-VLAN, broadcasts the data flow from the C-VLAN to a second routing bridge so that the second routing bridge forwards the data flow from the C-VLAN. With the method provided in the embodiments of the present application, a forwarding path can be rapidly switched when a designated routing bridge is faulty and cannot carry out a traffic forwarding function or an appointed forwarder of a customer VLAN is changed.