Shared Protection Group Object for ECMP Path Failure Convergence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ECMP systems experience long convergence times due to the need to walk and remove all associated paths when a next-hop link fails, especially in scenarios with a large number of ECMP objects, leading to inefficient redundancy management in EVPN networks.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a Shared Protection Group object in the forwarding chain allows all forwarding paths from the same next-hop to point to it, enabling a single update to switch all paths to a backup path upon next-hop failure, utilizing Active/Active redundancy with binary Active/Standby protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all ECMP paths are walked and removed when a next-hop link fails, then path accuracy is maintained, but convergence time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Shared Protection Group (SPG) object as an intermediary layer between ECMP paths and next-hop links. The SPG object acts as a mediator that groups multiple ECMP paths under a single protection domain, allowing failure detection and switchover to occur at the SPG level rather than requiring individual path updates. This intermediary structure enables fast convergence by consolidating the failure response mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the ECMP path management into hierarchical levels: ECMP paths are grouped under Shared Protection Group objects, which in turn are associated with next-hop links. This segmentation allows independent management at each level, so that when a next-hop fails, only the associated SPG objects need to be updated rather than walking through all individual ECMP paths. The segmentation creates manageable failure domains that reduce convergence time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of ECMP objects are managed individually, then path diversity is maximized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The Shared Protection Group object serves multiple functions simultaneously: it groups ECMP paths, provides failure detection, manages switchover logic, and maintains association with next-hop links. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate management mechanisms for each ECMP path, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining support for diverse paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple ECMP paths under a single Shared Protection Group object, combining their management into a unified structure. Instead of managing each ECMP path independently, the SPG object provides consolidated control, reducing the operational complexity of managing large numbers of ECMP objects while preserving path diversity through the grouped structure.
3Reliability
If ECMP paths are updated individually upon next-hop failure, then path correctness is ensured, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the update operations for multiple ECMP paths into a single SPG object update. When a next-hop fails, the system performs one update operation on the associated SPG object rather than individually updating each ECMP path. This merging of operations maintains path correctness through the SPG's protection logic while dramatically reducing processing overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The Shared Protection Group objects are pre-configured with backup path associations and switchover logic before failures occur. This preliminary setup includes pre-establishing protection relationships and configuring fallback paths, so that when a failure occurs, the system can immediately execute the pre-planned switchover without performing complex real-time calculations, thus ensuring path correctness while improving processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A switching circuit includes circuitry configured to manage a plurality of Equal Cost Multiple Paths (ECMPs) through a plurality of shared protection group objects, wherein each of the plurality of shared protection group objects is connected to two paths in the ECMPs, and wherein a number of shared protection group objects equals a number of next-hops, cause distribution of packets based on a setting of the shared protection group object for each next-hop, and responsive to a failure of a next-hop, change the setting of the shared protection group object for the failed next-hop.