Router Maintenance Bypassing Traffic Loss via Route Parameter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional router maintenance methods, such as Fast Reroute (FRR) and In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU), either cause traffic interruption or are costly and limited to software upgrades, lacking an efficient and cost-effective solution for hardware and software maintenance.
Innovation Solution
Setting a parameter associated with route selection to a predetermined value, which is sent to other routers in the network, causing them to bypass the maintenance router, thereby reducing traffic loss and enabling cost-effective maintenance across various types of router maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If Fast Reroute (FRR) is used to replace the path through the router during maintenance, then the router can be maintained, but traffic interruption and traffic loss occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-installing software packages on standby control cards before maintenance is needed. The standby control card is prepared in advance with the new software version, so when maintenance is required, the switch can occur immediately without traffic interruption, as the replacement card is already ready to take over instantly.
2Reliability
If In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) with redundant control cards and line cards is used, then traffic loss is avoided during maintenance, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating a standby control card that is a duplicate of the active control card. The standby card is prepared with the new software version while the active card continues to handle traffic. This copying approach allows for seamless switchover without requiring multiple redundant line cards, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining traffic continuity during software upgrades.
3Reliability
If In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) is used for router maintenance, then traffic loss is avoided, but the solution is only applicable to software maintenance and not hardware replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a standby control card mechanism that can handle both software upgrades and hardware failures. The same standby card infrastructure serves dual purposes: it can be used for In-Service Software Upgrade by loading new software packages, and it can also serve as a hot standby for hardware failure scenarios. This multi-functional approach enhances adaptability without requiring separate mechanisms for different maintenance types.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to router maintenance. An indication that a first router in the communication network is to be maintained is obtained. A parameter associated with a route selection is set to be a predetermined value responsive to the indication. The value of the parameter is sent to a further router in the communication network, such that probability that the further router selects a route passing through the router to be maintained is below a predetermined threshold. In this way, the route selection during the router maintenance is more cost-effective and efficient.