Routing Controller Forwarding Table Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing routing systems face challenges in preventing packet loss during the rebooting of a routing controller, as they require double physical memory to store forwarding information before and after rebooting, leading to high manufacturing costs and potential interruptions in packet forwarding.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that manage forwarding information by using a first table to store address and forwarding ID information at the forwarder, which is then copied to a second table during rebooting, allowing the routing controller to provide updated forwarding information, and maintaining forwarding information at the forwarder using a renewal information table with a stale mark to differentiate between old and new information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If double physical memory is used to store forwarding information before and after rebooting, then packet loss during rebooting is prevented, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the forwarding information storage into two distinct tables: a first table storing address information and forwarding ID information, and a second table storing forwarding information indexed by forwarding ID. This segmentation allows the system to maintain forwarding continuity without duplicating entire memory structures, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while ensuring reliability during rebooting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the forwarder send the first table to the routing controller before rebooting occurs. The routing controller stores this information in advance in the second table, so that when rebooting happens, the forwarding information is already prepared and packet loss is prevented without needing dual memory storage.
2Reliability
If double physical memory is allocated for storing forwarding information, then packet loss during rebooting is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the memory structure into two functional tables with distinct purposes: the first table for address-forwarding ID mapping and the second table for forwarding information storage. This segmentation simplifies the overall memory architecture compared to duplicating entire forwarding information, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a copying mechanism where the first table is sent to the routing controller and copied into the second table before rebooting. This copying approach allows the system to prepare forwarding information in advance without maintaining permanent duplicate memory structures, thereby reducing device complexity while ensuring packet forwarding continuity during rebooting.
3Adaptability or versatility
If forwarding information is re-set after rebooting, then updated routing information is provided, but packet loss occurs during the rebooting process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the forwarder send the first table to the routing controller before rebooting occurs. The routing controller uses this information to set up the second table in advance, ensuring that forwarding information is ready before the reboot completes, thus preventing packet loss while allowing routing information to be updated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the routing controller provides the second table to the forwarder after rebooting, and the forwarder uses this information to resume packet forwarding. This feedback loop ensures that updated routing information is properly communicated and applied, maintaining both adaptability and reliability during the rebooting process.
Data Source
AI summary
A routing system and a method for managing forwarding information therein includes a table for storing the index of the output interface table which contains the output interface information for transmitting the packets respectively received at the routing controller and the forwarder to the next hop and the index of the MAC table which contains the MAC information necessary to transmit the received packets to the next hop is provided, thereby preventing the packet from being lost during the backup of the forwarding information which is performed by the rebooting of the routing controller. Accordingly, there is no need for a memory for respectively storing the forwarding information before and after the rebooting of the routing controller.