Route Reflection by Next-Hop Address Type for IPv4/IPv6 Learning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Network devices fail to learn corresponding routes due to the coexistence of IPv4 and IPv6 neighbors in the same address family, leading to suboptimal route selection and service disruptions during network evolution.
Innovation Solution
Allocate routes to corresponding route groups based on the type of next-hop addresses, allowing independent selection and sending of routes to ensure all network devices supporting different address types can learn of routes, using methods like Border Gateway Protocol best path selection and ADD-PATH technology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the route reflector selects an optimal route from multiple routes with the same prefix for sending, then route selection efficiency is improved, but network devices supporting different address types (IPv4/IPv6) fail to learn corresponding routes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments routes into different route groups based on the address type (IPv4 or IPv6) of the next-hop address. Each route group contains routes with the same prefix but different address types. The route reflector maintains separate route groups for IPv4 and IPv6 neighbors, allowing independent route selection and sending to each group. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling efficient selection within each address type group while ensuring all neighbors can learn their corresponding routes.
2Area of stationary object
If the route reflector sends routes to all neighboring network devices, then route propagation coverage is improved, but network devices with mismatched address types cannot learn routes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the route sending process address-type-specific. The route reflector determines the address type of each neighboring network device and sends routes from the corresponding route group (IPv4 or IPv6) to each neighbor. This ensures that each neighbor receives routes compatible with its address type, resolving the contradiction between wide propagation coverage and address type compatibility.
3Device complexity
If routes with the same prefix are grouped together for selection, then route management efficiency is improved, but routes with different next-hop address types cannot be properly distributed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension to route grouping by organizing routes not only by prefix but also by next-hop address type. This creates a two-dimensional classification system where routes are first grouped by prefix and then subdivided into IPv4 and IPv6 route groups. This dimensional expansion resolves the contradiction by maintaining efficient prefix-based management while adding the flexibility needed for proper distribution to different address types.
Data Source
AI summary
A route sending method and a device are provided. The method includes: A second network device receives a first route sent by a first network device, where the first route includes an IP address of a source network device and first identification information identifying that an IP address of the first network device belongs to a first type, and the first network device is a next-hop network device of the source network device. The second network device sends the first route, where the first route is a route determined by the second network device based on a first route group, and the first route group is determined based on the IP address of the source network device and the first type, so that routes having the same IP address of the source network device but different types of next-hop addresses can be allocated to different route groups.