SRv6 Tunnel Packet Mapping for Cross-LAN VLAN Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing communication systems, the length of the VNI for virtual local area networks exceeds that of MPLS labels, leading to a shortage of available labels for identifying networks, preventing communication between users in different physical local area networks within the same virtual local area network.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing a 128-bit identifier in SRv6 networks to identify devices, which is longer than MPLS labels, ensuring sufficient network identification and enabling communication by mapping device identifiers through a relationship table, and converting packet formats to maintain metadata integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If MPLS labels are used to identify virtual local area networks, then network communication can be established, but the limited 20-bit label length cannot accommodate the 24-bit VNI, causing identifier shortages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an SRv6 tunnel as an intermediary mechanism between the NVO3 tunnel and MPLS network. The SRv6 tunnel uses 128-bit identifiers that can accommodate the 24-bit VNI, acting as a mediator that bridges the gap between the VNI identification requirements and the MPLS label limitations. This intermediary layer allows VNIs to be mapped to available MPLS labels without loss of identification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from the traditional MPLS label space (20 bits) to the SRv6 identifier space (128 bits), effectively changing the dimension of the identification space. This dimensional change provides sufficient address space to accommodate 24-bit VNIs while maintaining compatibility with the underlying MPLS network through label mapping.
2Reliability
If all MPLS labels are allocated to N virtual local area networks, then those networks can be identified, but no labels remain for other virtual local area networks, preventing communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic mapping between SRv6 identifiers and MPLS labels. Instead of static one-to-one allocation, the system can dynamically map multiple VNIs to available MPLS labels through the SRv6 tunnel, allowing flexible adaptation when label resources are constrained. This dynamic approach ensures communication reliability while maintaining versatility in VNI identification.
3Quantity of substance
If VNI length (24 bits) exceeds MPLS label length (20 bits), then more virtual local area networks can be identified by VNI, but the MPLS label space becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the MPLS label within the SRv6 tunnel structure. The SRv6 header contains the 128-bit identifier that can fully represent the 24-bit VNI, while the underlying MPLS label (20 bits) is nested within this larger identifier space. This nested structure allows the smaller MPLS label to be contained within the larger SRv6 identifier framework, resolving the length mismatch issue.
Data Source
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AI summary
A packet sending method, apparatus, and system are disclosed, and belong to the communications field. The method includes: A first device receives a first packet including a network identifier of a virtual local area network and an original packet, where the virtual local area network includes a first host and a second host. The first device obtains a first identifier based on an identifier of the second host and the network identifier, where the first identifier is used to identify a second device, an SRv6 tunnel exists between the first device and the second device, the first identifier includes an indication identifier used to indicate the second device to convert a format of a packet forwarded through the SRv6 tunnel into a format of a packet forwarded through a first NVO3 tunnel. The first device sends an SRv6 packet including the first identifier and the original packet to the second device through the SRv6 tunnel. The method can ensure normal communication between hosts located in a same virtual local area network but in different physical local area networks.