VPN Route Advertisement for Fast Reroute and Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In inter-AS VPN networks, the one-label-per-next-hop label distribution manner leads to slow network convergence and reduced transmission quality when network devices fail, especially with high packet loads.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a route advertisement method that allocates a same VPN identifier to VPN routes with the same route prefix and RD but different next hops, enabling fast reroute or load balancing through a one-VPN-identifier-per-next-hop manner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the one-label-per-next-hop label distribution manner is used, then label resources are saved, but the speed of resuming normal network transmission is low when a network device is faulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes multiple VPN routes with different next hops before network failures occur. When a device fault is detected, the system can immediately switch to a pre-configured backup route without performing route convergence calculations, thus reducing the time to resume normal transmission while maintaining efficient label resource usage through the one-label-per-next-hop distribution manner
2Quantity of substance
If the one-label-per-next-hop label distribution manner is used, then label resources are saved, but it is difficult to quickly complete packet transmission when a quantity of transmitted packets is large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments packet transmission by establishing multiple VPN routes with different next hops for the same route prefix and RD. This allows packets to be distributed across multiple parallel transmission paths, increasing overall packet transmission capacity and speed while maintaining the one-label-per-next-hop label distribution efficiency
3Reliability
If multiple VPN routes with different next hops are supported, then fast reroute or load balancing can be achieved, but the complexity of route management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a universal one-label-per-next-hop label distribution mechanism that automatically handles multiple VPN routes with different next hops. This unified approach simplifies route management by providing a consistent method for allocating labels across all routes, reducing the complexity associated with managing multiple VPN routes while enabling fast reroute and load balancing capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
This application discloses a route advertisement method, a packet forwarding method, a device, and a system. A first network device obtains a first VPN route and a second VPN route that have a same route prefix and a same route distinguisher but different VPN identifiers and different next hops. The first network device allocates a third VPN identifier to the first VPN route and the second VPN route, and stores, on a forwarding plane, a first correspondence between the third VPN identifier and a first VPN identifier that is included in the first VPN route and a second correspondence between the third VPN identifier and a second VPN identifier that is included in the second VPN route. The first VPN route and the second VPN route that belong to a same VPN can form fast reroute or load balancing.