MPLS Bypass Tunnel Bandwidth Computation for Congestion Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current MPLS local protection systems face inefficiencies in bandwidth reservation for bypass tunnels, leading to potential congestion and traffic loss during failover, and inefficient use of network resources due to approximate bandwidth calculations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that automatically derive the required bandwidth for bypass tunnels by computing the sum of signaled bandwidth for protected LSPs, decoupling bandwidth reservation from RSVP signaling, and using CSPF to determine paths with sufficient capacity without reserving bandwidth, thus optimizing resource use and preventing congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If bandwidth is reserved for bypass tunnel using approximate calculations, then bandwidth reservation is simplified, but congestion risk increases and network reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary bandwidth computation by summing the signaled bandwidth of all protected LSPs before establishing the bypass tunnel. This advance calculation ensures the bypass tunnel is provisioned with sufficient bandwidth capacity to handle all protected traffic during failover, eliminating the need for approximate reservations and preventing congestion while maintaining network reliability.
2Reliability
If bandwidth is reserved for bypass tunnel based on computed values, then congestion risk is reduced, but network resource efficiency deteriorates due to over-provisioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms through periodic re-computation of bandwidth requirements and monitoring of LSP bandwidth changes. When protected LSPs are added, removed, or have their bandwidth adjusted, the system detects these changes and re-computes the bypass tunnel bandwidth requirements accordingly. This dynamic feedback ensures bandwidth is precisely matched to actual needs, preventing both congestion and wasteful over-provisioning.
3Measurement precision
If bandwidth computation is performed periodically and dynamically, then bandwidth accuracy is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic bandwidth computation combined with event-triggered updates. Bandwidth requirements are re-computed at regular intervals and immediately when specific events occur (such as LSP establishment, teardown, or bandwidth modification). This hybrid approach maintains high bandwidth calculation accuracy while avoiding continuous computation, thereby minimizing processing overhead and maintaining system productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of the disclosed technology is a process, apparatus, and/or system that provides a capability to automatically derive the bandwidth required for a given bypass tunnel, and use it to compute a compliant path across the network, without reserving bandwidth of a given bypass along its path. This may be implemented by computing (e.g., summing) the signaled bandwidth required of all MPLS LSPs supported by a given bypass tunnel. The computation may be done as part of bypass tunnel re-optimization or re-signaling, prior to the Constrained Shortest Path First (CSPF) algorithm or procedure being run by the PLR or periodically.