Processing Node Packet Forwarding Control for VAS Loopback Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing VAS exchange processes, the lack of clear identification of previous and next-hop VASs leads to exceptions and loopbacks, preventing normal value-added services due to the reliance on service chain IDs alone.
Innovation Solution
A user packet forwarding control method where processing nodes generate a target processing identifier based on the user packet, allowing them to determine which VASs have processed the packet, ensuring proper forwarding without altering the packet and preventing exceptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If only service chain ID is used for VAS exchange, then the exchange process is simple, but loopbacks occur and next-hop VAS cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The service chain ID is segmented into multiple components: service chain ID itself, hop count, and processing node ID. This segmentation allows each component to serve a specific function - service chain ID identifies the chain, hop count tracks progression, and processing node ID identifies current location, thereby preventing loopbacks while maintaining exchange simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds dimensional information to the original service chain ID by incorporating hop count and processing node ID. This transforms a one-dimensional identifier into a multi-dimensional tracking mechanism that provides sufficient information for reliable next-hop determination without significantly increasing overall complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If service chain ID is transmitted in tunnel header, then VAS exchange can be implemented across switching nodes, but loopback detection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The hop count component acts as a feedback mechanism that increments with each VAS processing step. This provides continuous feedback about the packet's progression through the service chain, enabling easy loopback detection when the hop count indicates a previously visited node, while maintaining versatility across switching nodes
3Productivity
If processing node determines next-hop VAS without hop count, then forwarding is fast, but exceptions occur when multiple VASs are connected to same node
Solution Approach 1:
The processing node pre-determines and caches the mapping between service chain IDs and next-hop VASs before actual packet forwarding. This preliminary action allows the node to quickly lookup and forward packets without real-time computation, maintaining high forwarding speed while ensuring accurate next-hop determination even when multiple VASs are connected to the same node
Data Source
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AI summary
This embodiment provides a user packet forwarding control method and a processing node. In the forwarding control method shown in embodiments of the present invention, a processing node receives a processed user packet that is sent by the first target value-added server, and the processing node correspondingly generates a target processing identifier according to the processed user packet that is sent by the first target value-added server, so that the processing node determines, according to the target processing identifier, that the user packet has been processed by the first target value-added server. By means of the user packet forwarding control method provided in this embodiment, when different VASs forward a user packet, each processing node can determine VASs that have processed the user packet, without the need to change the original user packet, thereby effectively ensuring that each VAS provides a normal value-added service to the user packet, and avoiding a fault in a process of forwarding the user packet between value-added servers.