MAC Address Mobility in Ethernet Virtual Private Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for Ethernet Virtual Private Networks (E-VPN) based on Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) struggle to efficiently handle short-lived moves of virtual machines with media access control (MAC) addresses, as current hand-shake procedures are inadequate for processing multiple address changes within a few seconds or sub-seconds.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a MAC address mobility attribute in Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) MAC route advertisements, which includes a counter to track the number of moves, allowing provider edge nodes to efficiently identify the current location of MAC addresses and resolve conflicts, thereby supporting efficient MAC address mobility across the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hand-shake procedures are used to track MAC address mobility, then reachability information can be updated, but the system cannot process multiple moves within a short time frame

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speed of MAC address movesVSAvoidaccuracy of reachability information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the hand-shake mechanism from the BGP routing protocol and replaces it with direct BGP route advertisements that carry MAC address mobility attributes. This allows MAC address location updates to be handled independently of complex hand-shake procedures, enabling faster processing of multiple moves while maintaining accurate reachability information through the BGP update mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If specialized hand-shake procedures are implemented, then MAC address mobility can be tracked, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMAC address mobility supportVSAvoidcontrol plane complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the BGP routing protocol multi-functional by enabling it to carry both traditional routing information and MAC address mobility attributes through extended community attributes. This eliminates the need for separate hand-shake procedures, as BGP can now handle both functions, thereby reducing control plane complexity while maintaining MAC address mobility tracking capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If hand-shake mechanisms are used, then MAC address location can be determined, but processing time increases for multiple moves

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMAC address location accuracyVSAvoidtime to process multiple moves

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having provider edge nodes immediately generate and distribute BGP route advertisements with MAC address mobility attributes when a MAC address moves, rather than waiting for hand-shake procedures to complete. This proactive approach ensures that location accuracy is maintained while significantly reducing the time required to process multiple moves, as the information is pushed immediately rather than pulled through iterative hand-shakes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8842577B2Enabling media access control address mobility in an ethernet virtual private network

Publication Date: 2014.09.23 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining an indication that a device is attached to a provider edge. The device has a media access control (MAC) address, wherein the device was previously attached to a first provider edge (PE) of a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network. The method also includes issuing a first advertisement that identifies the MAC address. The first advertisement includes a first MAC address mobility attribute arranged to indicate a number of times the MAC address has moved with respect to the MPLS network.