Fast Rerouting Flag and Bypass Path for Router Interface Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fast rerouting methods in network communication technology face inefficiencies in transmission due to the need for transparent inter-board communication and fail to effectively manage flow loss when a router interface or board experiences failures.
Innovation Solution
The method involves setting a fast rerouting flag and bypass path information for forward information corresponding to a label switch path, allowing direct packet forwarding to a bypass path when failures are detected, thereby avoiding inter-board transparent transmission and enabling rerouting even when an interface board is faulty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conventional fast rerouting method is used where packets must arrive at the outgoing-interface board to trigger fast rerouting, then the routing protection function can be achieved, but the transmission efficiency is reduced due to required transparent transmission between interface boards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring fast rerouting parameters and backup paths in the Label Switching Router before failures occur. When a failure is detected, the pre-configured backup path is immediately activated without requiring complex real-time calculations or transparent inter-board communication, thus maintaining both reliability and transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the fast rerouting decision logic from the outgoing-interface board and relocates it to the Label Switching Router. This extraction eliminates the dependency on transparent transmission between interface boards and allows the router to make fast rerouting decisions independently based on failure detection information, thereby improving transmission efficiency while maintaining routing protection
2Reliability
If the conventional method is used where NHLFE is modified at the outgoing-interface board, then interface and link failures can be handled, but flow loss occurs when the interface board itself fails due to complete loss of saved forward entry information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the Label Switching Router as an intermediary that maintains backup path information independently of the interface board. When the interface board fails, the Label Switching Router uses its own stored backup path information to redirect traffic, acting as a mediator that prevents complete flow loss even when the interface board's NHLFE is lost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by pre-storing backup path information in the Label Switching Router before interface board failures occur. This backup information acts as a cushion that prevents flow loss when the interface board fails, as the router can switch to the pre-configured backup path without needing the failed interface board's forward entry information
Data Source
AI summary
A method for fast rerouting, wherein, in a router, a fast rerouting flag and bypass path information is set for forward information corresponding to a label switch path of an incoming interface board, the method including: receiving a packet, by an incoming interface of the router, determining whether the fast rerouting flag, set for the forward information corresponding to the packet, is valid; if the fast rerouting flag is invalid, forwarding the packet according to the forward information corresponding to the packet; if the fast rerouting flag is valid, forwarding the packet according to the bypass path information set for the forward information which the packet corresponds to. Thus, not only the problem of inter-board transparent transmission can be avoided, which is introduced when the NHLFE of the outgoing-interface board being extended to realize fast rerouting, but also the fast rerouting after the interface board being plugged out can be realized.