MPLS Service Function Chaining for OAM Routing and Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing service function chaining technologies face challenges in efficiently managing load balancing and operation, administration, and maintenance (OAM) protocols in multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) networks, particularly in handling OAM test packets and ensuring accurate packet routing.
Innovation Solution
The technology employs a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) forwarding plane to implement service function chaining by using a network service header (NSH) mapped to MPLS label stacks, incorporating special purpose labels (SPL) and entropy labels (ELI/EL) to manage OAM protocols and improve load balancing, ensuring accurate packet routing and defect detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If service function chaining is implemented in MPLS networks using traditional methods, then packet routing through service functions is achieved, but load balancing efficiency deteriorates and OAM test packet handling becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces special purpose labels (SPL) as intermediaries in the MPLS label stack to mediate between service function chaining requirements and OAM test packet handling. The SPL acts as a mediator that enables efficient load balancing while simplifying OAM packet routing without requiring complex processing logic in network devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by mapping service function chaining parameters to MPLS label parameters. By using label stacks with specific label values and positions to encode service function indicators, path identifiers, and OAM information, the system achieves efficient load balancing and simplified OAM handling through parameter transformation rather than complex processing.
2Measurement precision
If indicator labels are added to MPLS packets for OAM and load balancing, then routing accuracy improves, but packet processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet routing information into multiple label fields in the MPLS label stack. Each label serves a specific function (service function indicator, path identifier, OAM indicator, load balancing information), allowing precise routing control through structured segmentation rather than complex single-field processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the MPLS label stack with all necessary routing, service function, and OAM information before packets enter the service function chaining network. This preliminary labeling enables downstream devices to make routing decisions based on simple label matching rather than complex real-time analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are devices, systems and methods for load balancing and operation, administration and maintenance (OAM) in service function chaining using the multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) forwarding plane. In some implementations, a packet processing method includes processing a network packet comprising a plurality of labels based on presence of an indicator label in the plurality of labels such that in case that the indicator label is present in the network packet, the indicator label is used to determine a first destination of a payload of the network packet, and in case that the indicator label is not present in the network packet, the payload is passed to a second destination selected based on a service function indicator in the plurality of labels.