MPLS Tunnel Port Selection in Ethernet Link Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication equipment lacks coordination between RSVP-TE admission control for bandwidth allocation in MPLS tunnels and Ethernet link-aggregation port allocation, leading to potential service quality issues due to inadequate bandwidth allocation and lack of guarantees during port failures or reconfigurations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves selecting a specific physical port within an aggregated Ethernet port group based on requested service properties and ensuring that all packets for a tunnel are routed through this port, with mechanisms for maintaining allocated bandwidth during port failures or reconfigurations, using techniques like port coding and hashing to ensure accurate routing and backup port activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If RSVP-TE admission control allocates bandwidth based on total LAG group capacity, then bandwidth allocation efficiency is improved, but service quality deteriorates due to inability to guarantee bandwidth on individual ports
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the LAG group into individual physical ports for separate bandwidth evaluation. Instead of treating the LAG group as a single aggregated resource, the system evaluates each port's available bandwidth independently and selects a specific port that can guarantee the required bandwidth, thus resolving the contradiction between allocation efficiency and service quality guarantee.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary port selection and bandwidth verification before tunnel establishment. The system proactively identifies a suitable port with sufficient bandwidth capacity prior to committing resources, ensuring that service quality guarantees are built into the allocation process from the beginning rather than being discovered too late.
2Quantity of substance
If link aggregation distributes traffic across multiple ports, then total bandwidth capacity is improved, but service quality deteriorates due to lack of bandwidth guarantees during port failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification to ensure the selected port has sufficient bandwidth capacity before tunnel establishment. This proactive approach guarantees that the chosen port can handle the required traffic load even if other ports fail, maintaining service quality while still utilizing the aggregated bandwidth capacity of the LAG group.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selecting a specific port with verified sufficient bandwidth capacity rather than uniformly distributing traffic across all ports. This localized approach ensures that the particular port assigned to a tunnel has the necessary quality (bandwidth capacity) to guarantee service levels, while other ports remain available for different tunnels or backup purposes.
3Ease of operation
If Ethernet link aggregation operates transparently to RSVP-TE tunnel provisioning, then operational simplicity is improved, but service quality deteriorates due to lack of coordination between port allocation and bandwidth allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary coordination mechanism between the Ethernet LAG port allocation function and the RSVP-TE admission control module. This intermediary layer translates and coordinates the operations of both subsystems, allowing them to work together effectively without requiring fundamental changes to either system, thus maintaining operational simplicity while improving service quality through coordinated decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for processing data packets in a communication network includes establishing a path for a flow of the data packets through the communication network. At a node along the path having a plurality of aggregated ports, a port is selected from among the plurality to serve as part of the path. A label is chosen responsively to the selected port. The label is attached to the data packets in the flow at a point on the path upstream from the node. Upon receiving the data packets at the node, the data packets are switched through the selected port responsively to the label.