Site-Based Packet Routing to Reduce SD-WAN Table Duplication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN), the presence of duplicate routing entries and frequent updates to the routing table due to network device status changes negatively impact network performance.
Innovation Solution
A packet sending method that utilizes site prefixes and corresponding site identifiers in routing entries to directly route data packets between sites, eliminating the need for port-specific routing and reducing duplicate entries, and includes methods for generating and managing tunnel entries based on site identifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If port identifier-based routing entries are stored in the routing table, then packets can be routed through tunnels to next-hop devices, but a large quantity of duplicate routing entries are created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the routing function and tunnel selection function into a single routing entry. Instead of having separate routing entries for each port and tunnel entry, the routing entry directly contains the tunnel identifier, combining what were previously two separate lookup operations into one unified entry that serves both routing and tunnel selection purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing entry is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it performs destination address matching, identifies the target site, and directly provides the tunnel identifier for packet encapsulation. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate port identifier storage and tunnel table lookups.
2Ease of operation
If port-specific routing entries are maintained in the routing table, then packets can be forwarded through specific ports, but the routing table must be frequently updated when network device status changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the port identifier from the routing entry and replaces it with a site identifier and direct tunnel identifier. This extraction eliminates the need to track individual port status changes, as the routing entry now references the tunnel directly, which is managed separately and can handle status changes without requiring routing table updates.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple routing entries are stored for each network device, then comprehensive routing coverage is achieved, but network performance is degraded due to processing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-establishing tunnels between sites and pre-configuring routing entries with direct tunnel identifiers. This preparation work is done in advance, so when packets need to be routed, the system can perform a single efficient lookup without needing to process multiple port-specific entries or perform additional tunnel selection operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application discloses a packet sending method, an apparatus, and a storage medium, and belongs to the field of communications technologies. In this application, a first network device receives a first data packet, and determines a target routing entry from a stored routing table based on a destination address carried in the first data packet. The destination address carried in the first data packet matches a site prefix included in the target routing entry, and a site identifier included in the target routing entry is used to identify a second site. Then, the first network device may send the first data packet to a network device deployed in the second site. That is, the first network device may send a data packet to the second site based on the site identifier of the second site, without determining a port that is of a network device in the second site and that the data packet is specifically sent to. In addition, the first network device may store only one routing entry for one site. This avoids duplication of routing entries, and also avoids updating of a routing table caused by a change of a status of a network device.