MPLS LSP Tunnel for TRILL Packet Forwarding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data center networks using traditional Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) face limitations, leading to the need for alternative routing solutions like the TRILL protocol, which increases the complexity and cost of hardware forwarding chips during network upgrades and deployments.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) label switched path (LSP) tunnel in TRILL networks to facilitate packet forwarding, allowing for point-to-point (P2P) and point-to-multipoint (P2MP) tunnels, thereby reducing the need for hardware forwarding chip upgrades and simplifying network deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the TRILL protocol is implemented in data center networks, then the stability and extensibility of the network are improved, but the complexity and cost of hardware forwarding chips increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork stabilityVSAvoidhardware forwarding chip complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an MPLS LSP tunnel as an intermediary mechanism between the TRILL protocol and the hardware forwarding chip. The TRILL protocol operates at the control plane to establish LSP tunnels, while the data plane uses standard MPLS forwarding in the hardware chip. This intermediary approach allows the complex TRILL logic to be handled by software while the hardware chip uses simpler, standardized MPLS forwarding, thus resolving the contradiction between network reliability and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a mapping between TRILL NickName forwarding and MPLS LSP forwarding. Instead of requiring hardware chips to natively support TRILL NickName forwarding, the system copies the forwarding behavior by establishing LSP tunnels that replicate the NickName forwarding paths. This allows the hardware chip to use standard MPLS tables rather than TRILL-specific tables, reducing complexity while maintaining the same forwarding functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If hardware forwarding chips are upgraded to support NickName forwarding, then the TRILL network functionality is improved, but the economic cost and deployment difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTRILL network functionalityVSAvoiddeployment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes existing hardware forwarding chips universal by enabling them to handle TRILL traffic through standard MPLS LSP forwarding capabilities. Instead of requiring chips to be specifically upgraded for TRILL NickName forwarding, the solution uses the widely-supported MPLS functionality that already exists in most hardware chips. This multi-functionality approach allows a single chip design to support both traditional MPLS and TRILL protocols, significantly reducing upgrade costs and deployment complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9479420B2Forwarding a packet in a network

Publication Date: 2016.10.25 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

According to an example, in a network having a plurality of routing bridges (RBs), a first RB may assign, based on a NickName of each RB in a NickName routing table at a control plane, a unicast tunnel label taking the NickName as a forwarding equivalence class (FEC), and may establish a point to point (P2P) label switched path (LSP) tunnel between the first RB and other RBs in a network. In addition, the first RB may at least one of receive and transmit a packet through the established P2P LSP tunnel.