Link State Routing MAC Table Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large layer 2 networks, traditional ARP protocols lead to excessive bandwidth usage due to broadcasted address correspondence requests, and edge RBs need to store extensive MAC information, resulting in large and inefficient MAC tables.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for sending address correspondence information and updating MAC tables in a data link layer protocol using Link State Routing, where network nodes receive and record address correspondence advertisements, store relevant information, and send updates through a control plane message, allowing other nodes to directly respond to requests without broadcasting, thus reducing bandwidth usage and MAC table complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ARP protocols are used in large layer 2 networks, then address correspondence requests can be broadcast to all nodes, but bandwidth usage becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the address correspondence information from broadcast messages and places it into unicast messages sent only to the ingress RB. This extraction principle reduces the scope of message propagation from all network nodes to only the necessary receiving node, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining address resolution functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the ingress RB proactively send address correspondence information to egress RBs before actual communication needs arise. The egress RBs store this information in advance in their MAC tables, so when data needs to be forwarded, the address resolution has already been completed, eliminating the need for broadcast ARP requests at data transmission time
2Reliability
If edge RBs store extensive MAC information to support all network nodes, then address lookup is complete, but MAC table size becomes large and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the MAC table into two distinct parts: a static portion containing pre-configured address correspondence information received through the control plane, and a dynamic portion containing runtime learned addresses. This segmentation allows the majority of addresses to be stored efficiently in the static portion, reducing the burden on the dynamic portion and optimizing overall table efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to address storage by adding the ingress RB identifier to the traditional MAC address to IP address mapping. This creates a three-dimensional address table structure (ingress RB, MAC address, IP address) that enables more precise and efficient address lookup, reducing the number of entries needed in each edge RB's MAC table
Data Source
AI summary
The objective of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus of sending address correspondence information and updating a MAC table in a data link layer protocol of applying Link State Routing for solving the problem that too much bandwidth is occupied by broadcasting address correspondence information solicitation in a data link layer of applying link state routing. Through adopting the technical solution of the embodiments of the present invention, since besides the ingress network node, other network nodes also store address correspondence information in their address correspondence information tables, so when they receive an address correspondence information solicitation, they can directly reply with an address correspondence information response without broadcasting the solicitation, decreasing the bandwidth occupied by broadcasting address correspondence information solicitation in a data link layer of applying link state routing.