MultiNexthop BGP Attribute for Virtual Node Fabric Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current routing protocols, such as BGP, are limited in advertising multiple next hops for network destinations within a single message, lacking the ability to specify relationships and forwarding semantics between these hops, which can lead to inefficient network traffic management and routing decisions.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a new BGP attribute, MultiNexthop, allows for the advertisement of multiple next hops and their associated forwarding semantics within a single routing protocol message, enabling upstream and downstream allocation scenarios, and improving network traffic routing by specifying relationships and forwarding actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If current routing protocols (BGP) are used to advertise next hops, then routing information can be exchanged between devices, but multiple next hops and their relationships cannot be advertised within a single message
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing information by introducing a new attribute structure that divides next hop information into multiple distinguishable components (first next hop, second next hop, etc.) with specific relationships (load balance, backup, etc.), allowing comprehensive routing information to be organized and transmitted in a structured manner within the BGP protocol framework
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by embedding multiple next hop information elements within a single BGP attribute structure. The new attribute contains nested information about multiple next hops and their relationships, enabling comprehensive routing data to be contained within one message attribute rather than requiring multiple separate messages or complex external structures
2Loss of information
If multiple routing messages are sent to advertise multiple next hops, then complete routing information can be transmitted, but message overhead and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple next hop advertising functions into a single BGP attribute structure. Instead of requiring separate messages or multiple attribute instances, the new attribute consolidates information about multiple next hops and their relationships into one unified structure that can be transmitted in a single routing message, reducing message overhead and processing complexity
3Productivity
If traditional BGP routing decisions are made without explicit forwarding semantics, then routing is simpler, but network traffic management efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning specific forwarding semantics (load balance, backup, primary, etc.) to each next hop relationship locally within the routing information structure. This allows different portions of the routing information to have different forwarding characteristics, enabling precise control over traffic management for different next hops while maintaining overall system efficiency
Data Source
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AI summary
In some examples, a method includes selecting, by a first virtual routing node of a single-chassis network device having a plurality of forwarding components and a plurality of fabric links coupling respective pairs of the plurality of forwarding components at respective fabric interfaces of the plurality of forwarding components, a fabric interface of a forwarding component having an egress interface toward a network destination and that is associated with the first virtual routing node; advertising, to the second virtual routing node, the fabric interface as a next hop for the network destination; storing, by the second virtual routing node to a context data structure of the second virtual node, the fabric interface as a next hop for the network destination; selecting the fabric interface from among a plurality of fabric interfaces as a next hop for the network destination; and forwarding network traffic destined for the network destination to the selected fabric interface.