Single-Ended ELPS for Rapid Type C GPON Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Access networks with nodes and links outside secure facilities have lower reliability than those within, and existing redundancy mechanisms like VRRP and MC-LAG require complex coordination between gateway nodes, leading to prolonged network downtime during failover.
Innovation Solution
A protection switch edge node is introduced at the customer side to autonomously detect faults and switch connectivity between primary and secondary gateway nodes without requiring coordination, using Single-Ended ELPS to ensure rapid failover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If VRRP and MC-LAG protocols are used for gateway node selection, then network redundancy is provided, but failover time is prolonged due to coordination requirements between gateway nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the active gateway selection logic from the gateway nodes themselves and places it in a separate protection switch mechanism. This separation eliminates the coordination overhead between gateway nodes, allowing independent and rapid failover decisions without the time-consuming protocol exchanges required by VRRP and MC-LAG.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection switch acts as an intermediary between the access network and gateway nodes, making the active gateway selection decision. This intermediary role allows the system to maintain redundancy while avoiding the coordination delays inherent in peer-to-peer gateway node communication protocols.
2Reliability
If Type B PON redundancy with multiple OLTs is used, then path protection is provided, but switchover speed is limited due to coordination complexity between primary and secondary OLTs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the switchover control logic from the OLT coordination mechanism and places it in the protection switch. This eliminates the need for complex state synchronization between primary and secondary OLTs, enabling faster switchover by removing the coordination bottleneck.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection switch independently monitors path status and autonomously executes switchover decisions without requiring complex inter-OLT coordination. This self-service approach to failover management significantly reduces switchover time by eliminating protocol negotiation delays.
3Reliability
If gateway nodes employ coordination protocols for active node selection, then redundancy is maintained, but device complexity increases due to protocol support requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complex protocol coordination requirements from the gateway nodes and concentrates them in a dedicated protection switch. This separation simplifies the gateway nodes by removing the need for VRRP, MC-LAG, or other coordination protocol implementations, while maintaining redundancy functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection switch serves as an intermediary that handles all complex coordination logic, allowing gateway nodes to operate with simpler, stateless forwarding behavior. This intermediary approach maintains system redundancy while significantly reducing the protocol complexity burden on individual gateway nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for high speed failover in a network are provided. To provide faster Type C GPON redundancy failover, the disclosure herein describes the use of G.8031 1:1 ELPS in a single ended application to ensure path integrity through the network. Single ended 1:1 ELPS means that a network device is configured with 1:1 ELPS and switches paths in the event of disruption of the working communication path without the other underlying transport entities having knowledge of either the ELPS protocol or state machine. ELPS (Ethernet Linear Protection Switching, ITU G.8031) is a standardized method for protection switching between two point-to-point paths through a network, however its application here is quite novel. During a failure on the working path, traffic will switch over to the protection path. Type C PON protection provides a fully redundant path between the OLT and the ONU (2 separate PONs).