Network Switch Protection Switching Using Logical Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network protection switching systems face challenges in quickly and efficiently rerouting traffic when a working path fails, leading to potential network downtime and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A network switch with a packet processing pipeline that detects loss of continuity (LOC) on network paths and dynamically switches traffic to alternate paths using logical interfaces, enabling fast rerouting and maintaining network resilience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional protection switching systems are used to reroute traffic when a working path fails, then network reliability is improved, but network downtime occurs during the switching process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes multiple logical interfaces mapped to different network paths (working path and protection path) before failure occurs. When LOC is detected, the system immediately switches to using the pre-configured alternate logical interfaces without requiring path recalculation or reconfiguration, thereby eliminating switching delay and network downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which logical interfaces to use for forwarding based on real-time LOC detection status. The packet processing pipeline monitors LOC conditions and automatically transitions between working path logical interfaces and protection path logical interfaces, enabling adaptive, real-time path switching without manual intervention or system reconfiguration.
2Reliability
If manual path switching is performed when network failure occurs, then traffic can be rerouted, but the switching process is slow and reduces network productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The packet processing pipeline autonomously detects LOC conditions and automatically switches traffic to alternate logical interfaces without requiring manual operator intervention. The system monitors its own network paths, detects failures, and performs self-healing by rerouting traffic through pre-configured protection paths, maintaining high productivity during failure events.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors network path status through LOC detection and uses this feedback to automatically control traffic forwarding decisions. When LOC is detected on the working path, the feedback mechanism triggers immediate switching to protection path logical interfaces, enabling rapid automated response that maintains network productivity.
3Reliability
If the system monitors and switches between multiple network paths, then network resilience is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network path functionality into multiple independent logical interfaces, each mapped to a specific physical network path. This segmentation allows the system to manage complex multi-path scenarios by treating each logical interface as a separate, manageable entity with its own LOC status, simplifying the overall control logic while maintaining high resilience.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple logical interfaces are configured to serve the same protective function - providing alternate paths for traffic forwarding. Each logical interface can independently handle traffic forwarding decisions based on its associated LOC status, allowing the system to achieve high resilience through multiple identical functional units rather than complex coordinated control.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure provide a network switch having a plurality of physical ports, a detector and a packet processing pipeline. Each of plurality of physical ports is associated with one or more network paths in a transport network to transmit/receive traffic of the network paths. The detector is configured to detect loss of continuity (LOC) on the network paths. The packet processing pipeline is configured to identify first two or more logical interfaces mapped to a first network path, determine second two or more logical interfaces mapped to a second network path that is an alternate network path for the first network path, and use the second two or more logical interfaces in forwarding decisions in response to a detection of LOC on the first network path, such that traffic to the first network path is sent to a physical port associated with the second network path.