NVO3 Network MAC Table Optimization via Shared VTEP
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Solution Overview
Problem
In NVO3 networks, remote NVEs face a heavy burden in maintaining MAC forwarding tables due to multihoming of CEs, which affects network scalability, especially when faults occur in access links, as they need to modify correspondence between MAC addresses and interfaces, and load sharing is not supported in many cases.
Innovation Solution
The method involves setting globally unique and shared VTEP IP addresses for NVEs, allowing CEs to send packets with MAC addresses and VLAN IDs, performing NVO3 encapsulation with a shared VTEP IP address, and forwarding packets to remote NVEs to establish mappings in MAC forwarding tables, thereby masking multihoming and reducing the need for table modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the remote NVE learns MAC addresses of multihomed CEs through control plane and maintains separate interface correspondences, then the MAC address forwarding can be achieved, but the burden of maintaining MAC forwarding table becomes heavy and network scalability is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple interface correspondences for a multihomed CE into a single interface correspondence in the remote NVE's MAC forwarding table. Instead of maintaining separate entries for each local NVE that a CE is connected to, the invention consolidates these into one entry, significantly reducing the table size and maintenance burden while preserving forwarding functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The invention makes a single interface correspondence in the MAC forwarding table serve multiple functions: it handles forwarding for all local NVEs that a multihomed CE is connected to, regardless of which specific local NVE the packet arrives from. This universal entry replaces multiple specific entries, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability
2Reliability
If the remote NVE maintains separate interface correspondences for multihomed CE MAC addresses, then accurate packet forwarding can be ensured, but the frequency of table modifications increases during link faults
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary consolidation of interface correspondences before faults occur. By pre-establishing a single interface correspondence that covers all possible local NVE connections for a multihomed CE, the system eliminates the need for frequent table modifications when link faults occur, as the consolidated entry remains valid regardless of which specific link is active
3Productivity
If load sharing is enabled for multihomed CEs across multiple NVEs, then network resource utilization improves, but compatibility issues arise as many virtual switches do not support this feature
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a mediation mechanism where the local NVE performs load sharing by selecting which local NVE receives packets from a multihomed CE, and the remote NVE simply forwards packets based on the consolidated MAC address table. This intermediary approach at the local NVE enables load sharing functionality without requiring support from the remote NVE or virtual switch, thus maintaining compatibility
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a packet processing method, a related apparatus, and an NVO3 network system. A first NVE receives a first packet sent by a first CE, where the first packet includes a MAC address of the first CE and a VLAN ID; the first NVE determines a VNI of the first CE according to an inbound interface of the first packet and the VLAN ID; the first NVE performs NVO3 encapsulation on the first packet to obtain an NVO3 encapsulated first packet, where the NVO3 encapsulated first packet includes the VNI of the first CE, and a source IP address in an NVO3 header of the NVO3 encapsulated first packet is a first shared VTEP IP address shared by the first NVE and a second NVE; and the first NVE forwards the NVO3 encapsulated first packet to a remote NVE, where the NVO3 encapsulated first packet is used to instruct the remote NVE to establish a mapping relationship among the MAC address of the first CE, the VNI of the first CE, and the first shared VTEP IP address in a MAC forwarding table. The embodiments of the present invention can reduce a burden on the remote NVE of maintaining the MAC forwarding table, and enhance network scalability.