Service-Based Tunnel Selection for Network Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computer networks face challenges in reliably forwarding network traffic when primary transport tunnels become unavailable, leading to packet drops and network congestion.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a service-specific tunnel selection scheme that identifies primary and fallback mapping modes, allowing network devices to map network services to reachable transport tunnels, even if the primary tunnel is unavailable, by categorizing tunnels based on types such as tunnel colorization, IGP, or IP version conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a network device uses a primary transport tunnel for forwarding network traffic, then the network traffic can be forwarded efficiently along an optimized path, but if the primary tunnel becomes unavailable, the network traffic cannot be forwarded and packets are dropped
Solution Approach 1:
The network device pre-configures multiple tunnel mapping modes (primary and fallback) before tunnel failures occur. When a primary tunnel becomes unavailable, the device can immediately switch to a pre-planned fallback mapping mode without complex real-time decision-making, thus maintaining reliability while managing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the tunnel mapping parameter from a single fixed mapping to multiple configurable mapping modes with different priorities. By adjusting which mapping mode is active based on tunnel availability, the system achieves both reliability (through fallback options) and manageable complexity (through structured mode selection)
2Reliability
If a network device implements fallback tunnel mapping modes, then network traffic can continue to be forwarded when primary tunnels are unavailable, but the device complexity increases due to multiple mapping modes
Solution Approach 1:
The tunnel mapping functionality is segmented into distinct mapping modes (primary mapping mode, first fallback mapping mode, second fallback mapping mode, etc.), each with specific purposes and priorities. This segmentation allows the device to manage complexity by treating each mode as a separate, well-defined unit rather than one monolithic complex system
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which mapping mode to use based on tunnel availability conditions. The mapping mode is not fixed but can change from primary to fallback modes as needed, providing service continuity while maintaining a structured approach that manages configuration complexity
3Productivity
If a network device attempts to map a network service to an unavailable primary transport tunnel, then the device follows the preferred service-specific tunnel selection scheme, but the network traffic is dropped and cannot reach its destination
Solution Approach 1:
The network device performs preliminary checks to determine tunnel availability before attempting to forward traffic through a primary tunnel. If the primary tunnel is unavailable, the device proactively switches to a fallback mapping mode in advance of packet transmission, preventing packet drops rather than reacting after failure occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The fallback tunnel mapping modes act as intermediaries between the network service and the available transport infrastructure. When the primary tunnel is unavailable, these intermediary fallback modes provide an alternative path, ensuring both reliability (packet delivery) and maintaining forwarding efficiency through pre-configured alternative routes
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for service-based tunnel selection for forwarding network traffic. In one example, a network device obtains, based on service parameters associated with a network service, a service-specific tunnel selection scheme. The tunnel selection scheme identifies a primary mapping mode for mapping the network service to a primary transport tunnel and fallback mapping modes for mapping the network service to fallback transport tunnels. The primary mapping mode is categorized according to a first type comprising tunnel colorization, while the fallback mapping modes are categorized according to types other than tunnel colorization. In response to determining that the network service cannot be mapped to the primary transport tunnel according to the primary mapping mode, the network device, maps, based on the fallback mapping modes, the network service to the fallback transport tunnels. The network device forwards network traffic associated with the network service via the fallback transport tunnels.