Route Reflector RIB Consolidation for Fast Network Route Queries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Efficiently storing and querying large-scale communication network data, particularly the Routing Information Base (RIB), is challenging due to the vast amount of data required, especially in networks with thousands of Provider Edge routers, which complicates fault detection and traffic management.
Innovation Solution
Organizing network data using Route Reflectors (RRs) to reduce storage needs by reorganizing data into a {prefix, nexthop} tuple format, leveraging RR peer groups to minimize storage requirements and enable rapid query processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network data is stored in traditional RIB format for each Provider Edge router, then complete routing information is maintained, but storage requirements become prohibitively large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges routing information from multiple Provider Edge routers into a single consolidated database by collecting RIBs from all PEs and aggregating prefix-nexthop mappings. This consolidation eliminates redundant storage of identical routing entries across thousands of routers, reducing total storage requirements while preserving complete network routing information.
Solution Approach 2:
The consolidated database serves multiple functions: it stores routing information for fault detection, enables traffic condition monitoring, supports route tracing, and provides network topology analysis. This multi-functional approach replaces multiple separate storage systems, reducing overall storage needs while maintaining comprehensive network monitoring capabilities.
2Loss of information
If traditional RIB storage methods are used, then all routing data is available, but query and analysis operations become computationally intensive and slow
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and consolidating routing information into an optimized database structure before queries are executed. RIBs from all Provider Edge routers are collected and aggregated in advance, creating a ready-to-query consolidated format that eliminates the need for complex real-time data gathering during fault detection or route tracing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The consolidated database organizes routing information into structured segments including prefix-nexthop tuples, provider edge router identifiers, and route reflection group associations. This segmentation enables efficient indexing and targeted queries, allowing the system to retrieve specific routing information quickly without processing entire RIBs from all routers.
3Reliability
If complete RIB data from all Provider Edge routers is stored, then comprehensive network monitoring is enabled, but system complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Route Reflector as an intermediary component that mediates between Provider Edge routers and the consolidated database. Route Reflectors collect, validate, and forward RIB information from PEs, simplifying the data organization process and reducing the complexity burden on the central database system while ensuring comprehensive network monitoring coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure pertains to computer-assisted methods, apparatus, and systems for efficiently monitoring and storing the state of large-scale communication networks and tracing packet routes through such networks.