MPLS Tunnel Switching via LACP Port Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tunnel switching technologies for MPLS services require lengthy switching times and excessive hardware resources due to the need for individual processing of each service on a working tunnel, making it difficult to meet the 50ms protocol requirement for switch protection.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that maps output port information of multiple MPLS services using the same working tunnel to a Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) port, sets next hop information as multiplexed items, and updates these settings when switching from a working tunnel to a protecting tunnel, allowing for batch switching and efficient resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual service switching is performed for each MPLS service on the working tunnel, then switching reliability is improved, but switching time increases and hardware resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual service switching operations into a single batch switching operation by grouping MPLS services that share the same working tunnel into a unified switching unit. This allows all services to switch from working tunnel to protecting tunnel simultaneously through one atomic operation, eliminating sequential processing delays while maintaining switching reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing protecting tunnels and pre-configuring service mappings before failures occur. The protecting tunnel is prepared in advance with all necessary forwarding information, so when switching is needed, the system only needs to activate the pre-prepared protection path rather than computing and establishing it during the switching event.
2Reliability
If individual service switching is performed for each MPLS service, then switching completeness is improved, but hardware resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple service switching operations into a single batch operation, reducing the total number of switching actions from N individual switches to 1 collective switch. This merging approach maintains complete service switching while significantly reducing hardware resource consumption by processing all services through a unified switching mechanism rather than requiring separate processing for each service.
3Quantity of substance
If batch switching of multiple MPLS services is implemented, then hardware resource consumption is reduced, but switching mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary batching mechanism that sits between individual service switching requests and the actual switching execution. This intermediary layer groups services into batches, manages the batch switching logic, and coordinates with the protecting tunnel activation. By introducing this intermediary, the system reduces overall complexity despite the batch processing requirement, as the intermediary abstracts and standardizes the switching operations.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The disclosure provides a tunnel switching method for Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) services. The method includes: output port information of multiple MPLS services which use the same working tunnel is mapped to a Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) port; items of the next hop information to which the MPLS services correspond are set as multiplexed items; when tunnel switching is needed, the items of the next hop information and the setting of the LACP port are updated. The disclosure further provides a tunnel switching system for MPLS services. The method and system implement batch switching for the multiple MPLS services, improve the service switching time of the MPLS greatly, therefore the number of services has no influence on the switching time, and a lot of hardware resources are saved.