Network Device Dual Forwarding Plane Version Upgrade
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network device version upgrade methods generate a large quantity of broadcast packets, leading to excessive network bandwidth occupation and congestion due to the need for MAC address regeneration during the transition from an older to a new version.
Innovation Solution
Configuring a network device with a first and second forwarding plane, where the first plane runs an older version and the second plane runs a new version, with sampling and broadcasting of packets to learn MAC addresses, allowing the second plane to take over when a preset threshold of MAC addresses is reached, thereby reducing the need for extensive broadcast packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If MAC address table is regenerated during version upgrade, then the new version can forward packets correctly, but a large quantity of broadcast packets are generated causing network congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-learning MAC addresses in the second forwarding plane before the version upgrade takes effect. The control plane sends MAC address learning packets to the second forwarding plane in advance, so that when the upgrade occurs, the second plane already has the necessary MAC address table to forward packets correctly without generating excessive broadcast packets.
2Loss of information
If all packets are forwarded in broadcast manner during MAC address learning, then MAC addresses can be learned completely, but excessive network bandwidth is occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary MAC address learning packets from the full packet flow and sends them to the second forwarding plane separately. Instead of forwarding all packets in broadcast manner, the control plane identifies and extracts only those packets needed for MAC address learning, thereby reducing network bandwidth consumption while maintaining learning completeness.
3Loss of time
If version upgrade is performed quickly, then service interruption time is reduced, but MAC address learning may be incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs MAC address learning in advance before the version upgrade is completed. The control plane sends MAC address learning packets to the second forwarding plane during the upgrade transition period, ensuring learning is completed before the new version takes full effect, thus avoiding service interruption while maintaining learning completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for upgrading a version of a network device and a device. A specific solution is: configuring a forwarding plane of the network device to be a first forwarding plane and a second forwarding plane; performing, in the first forwarding plane, sampling on forwarded packets by using a preset sampling ratio, to obtain a sample packet; forwarding, by the second forwarding plane, the sample packet in a broadcast manner, to learn a MAC address; and when a quantity of MAC addresses learned by the second forwarding plane reaches a preset threshold, performing upgrade so that the second forwarding plane is used for packet forwarding of the network device. The technical solution can effectively avoid generation of a large quantity of broadcast packets during a version upgrade process, can help reduce network bandwidth that is excessively occupied, and avoid network congestion.