SR Network Packet Forwarding With Compressed Segment Identifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packet transmission efficiency in Segment Routing (SR) networks is reduced due to excessively long segment lists, which increase the packet length and occupy significant network resources.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method to compress segment identifiers (SIDs) by storing multiple identifiers in each 128-bit element of the segment list, using compressed segment identifiers (uSID) and a pointer to locate them, and incorporate these identifiers into the destination address field to reduce the segment list length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple identifiers are stored in each 128-bit element of the segment list, then the segment list length is reduced and packet transmission efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for compression and pointer mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The segment list is segmented into fixed-length elements (128-bit blocks), with each element containing multiple compressed identifiers. This segmentation allows efficient memory access and processing while reducing the overall segment list length, directly improving packet transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple identifiers are nested within each 128-bit element block, with compressed identifiers (uSIDs) contained within the element structure. Pointer fields are nested within elements to indicate positions of subsequent identifiers. This nesting reduces the total number of elements needed, shrinking the segment list length and improving transmission efficiency.
2Loss of substance
If the segment list length is reduced by storing multiple identifiers per element, then network resource occupation is reduced, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to the complexity of compression algorithms
Solution Approach 1:
Identifiers are compressed by changing their parameter representation from full 128-bit SIDs to shorter uSID values. The compression ratio is adjusted based on the number of identifiers per element (e.g., 4 identifiers per 128-bit element). This parameter change reduces the segment list length and network resource occupation while maintaining precise identifier identification through the pointer mechanism.
3Productivity
If compressed segment identifiers are used to reduce packet length, then transmission efficiency is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to the pointer-based location system
Solution Approach 1:
Pointer fields are introduced as intermediaries between the compressed identifiers and their actual locations within elements. Each element contains pointers that indicate the positions of subsequent identifiers. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the detection and measurement process by providing direct access paths, reducing the difficulty despite the compression complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for forwarding a packet including: receiving a first packet, where a first packet header of the first packet includes a segment list used to forward the first packet, the segment list includes a plurality of sequentially arranged identifiers, each of the plurality of identifiers corresponds to one network device or one link, the list includes a first element whose length is 128 bits, the first element includes at least two adjacent identifiers in the plurality of identifiers, and the first packet includes a first pointer; determining a location of a first identifier in the first element based on a value of the first pointer, where the first identifier is one of the at least two identifiers; copying at least one identifier starting from the first identifier to a second packet header of the first packet, to generate a second packet; and sending the second packet.