P2MP LSP Backup Protection via Segmented Bypass Tunnels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network technologies, such as RSVP-TE, fail to effectively protect against failures of ingress and egress nodes in Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and Generalized MPLS (GMPLS) networks, particularly in Point-to-Multipoint (P2MP) Label Switched Paths (LSPs, leading to delays and resource inefficiencies during node failures.
Innovation Solution
The method involves designating backup ingress and egress nodes to detect failures using Bi-directional Forwarding Detection (BFD) and establishing backup LSPs, such as P2P bypass tunnels or detour tunnels, to reroute traffic locally within the network, reducing the need for additional backup P2MP LSPs and minimizing resource consumption and recovery time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If one-to-one backup method is used for each P2P LSP, then local repair point protection is improved, but device complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The backup protection is segmented into two distinct components: a facility bypass tunnel that protects multiple P2P LSPs collectively, and individual detour tunnels for each P2P LSP. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive protection while reducing overall complexity by separating the common protection infrastructure from specific LSP requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple P2P LSPs are merged under a single facility bypass tunnel for shared protection. Instead of creating separate backup paths for each LSP, the invention combines them into a common bypass structure that can handle failures affecting multiple LSPs simultaneously, thereby reducing device complexity and resource consumption.
2Loss of energy
If facility bypass backup protection is used, then resource consumption is reduced, but ingress and egress node failure protection is lost
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary detour tunnel is introduced that connects the ingress node to the facility bypass tunnel. This intermediary structure enables the facility bypass to protect against ingress and egress node failures by providing an alternative path that bypasses the failed nodes, while still maintaining resource efficiency through the shared bypass infrastructure.
3Reliability
If backup P2MP LSP is established, then end-to-end protection is improved, but network resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of establishing a complete backup P2MP LSP that would consume extensive network resources, the invention implements local quality protection by creating facility bypass tunnels at specific strategic points in the network. This localized approach provides end-to-end protection capability while consuming significantly fewer network resources by protecting only the critical segments rather than the entire path.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus comprising a backup node coupled to an ingress node of a point-to-multipoint (P2MP) label switched path (LSP) and to a plurality of next-hop nodes of the ingress node of the P2MP LSP via a backup tree, wherein the backup node and the ingress node are both coupled to an external node, and wherein the backup node is configured to ensure data delivery in the P2MP LSP when the ingress node fails. Included is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising detecting a failure in an ingress node of a P2MP LSP, receiving a data packet destined for the ingress node and to be transported by the P2MP LSP from a provider node when the ingress node fails, and transmitting the data packet on a backup tree that merges with the P2MP LSP prior to reaching an egress node.