Route Reflector RIB Layout for Large-Scale 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
Organize network data using Route Reflectors (RRs) to reduce storage by reorganizing data into a {prefix, nexthop}→[list of RRs] format, enabling efficient querying and route reconstruction in nanoseconds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional routing table storage methods are used in large-scale networks with thousands of Provider Edge routers, then complete routing information can be maintained, but storage requirements become prohibitively large and query operations become slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing information by introducing Route Reflectors that aggregate routing data from multiple Provider Edge routers. Instead of storing complete routing tables at every router, the system divides the network into routing domains managed by specific Route Reflectors, each responsible for storing and managing routing information for a subset of PEs. This segmentation dramatically reduces individual storage requirements while maintaining network-wide routing completeness through the hierarchical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces Route Reflectors as intermediary components between Provider Edge routers and the routing information base. These Route Reflectors act as mediators that collect, aggregate, and store routing information from multiple PEs, then provide routing queries to any PE in their managed domain. This intermediary layer eliminates the need for every PE to maintain complete routing tables, reducing storage requirements while ensuring routing information completeness through the mediator's centralized knowledge.
2Speed
If complete routing information is stored at every Provider Edge router, then routing queries can be answered immediately, but the system complexity and storage requirements increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the routing information storage function across multiple Route Reflectors that collectively maintain the complete routing database. Instead of duplicating complete routing tables at every Provider Edge router (which would increase system complexity), the system combines storage resources at specialized Route Reflector nodes. This merging approach maintains fast query response times by providing centralized routing lookup while reducing individual device complexity and overall system complexity through functional specialization.
Solution Approach 2:
Route Reflectors serve as intermediary components that handle routing query operations, freeing Provider Edge routers from maintaining complete routing tables. The intermediary Route Reflectors receive routing queries from PEs, perform the lookup operations against their stored routing information, and return results to the requesting PEs. This intermediary architecture maintains fast query response times while significantly reducing the complexity burden on individual PE routers and the overall system.
3Quantity of substance
If routing information is aggregated using Route Reflectors to reduce storage, then storage requirements decrease, but query operations require additional lookup steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having Route Reflectors pre-aggregate and organize routing information from multiple Provider Edge routers into structured routing tables before queries are received. The routing information is collected, validated, and stored in an optimized format in advance, so that when routing queries arrive, the Route Reflectors can perform fast lookups against the pre-processed data. This preliminary aggregation and organization eliminates the need for complex real-time computations during query operations, maintaining fast response times despite the hierarchical storage structure.
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.