Secure Tunnel Routing With VRF for Plug-and-Play Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing secure communication networks face challenges in achieving 'plug and play' functionality while maintaining security and flexibility, especially in sensitive applications like military networks that require frequent re-deployment and rapid topology changes.
Innovation Solution
A method for creating secure traffic and management tunnels using virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) modules, where each tunnel is established over a link between identical bearer interfaces, allowing automatic configuration and separation of tunnels with unique addresses, enabling self-configuring networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration of connections between nodes is implemented for security protection, then security against DOS attacks is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to lengthy data preparation and prevention of plug and play functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-configuration where router nodes autonomously detect neighboring nodes, receive loopback addresses, detect routing prefixes, build routing tables, extract IP addresses, and establish secure tunnels without manual user configuration. This self-service mechanism eliminates the lengthy data preparation phase while maintaining security through automated tunnel establishment between nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration actions by pre-establishing secure tunnels and pre-configuring routing tables before actual data transmission begins. The automatic detection and configuration of routing prefixes and loopback addresses occurs in advance, allowing the network to be operational immediately upon node connection without requiring manual security configuration.
2Reliability
If manual configuration of connections between nodes is implemented for security protection, then security against DOS attacks is improved, but adaptability deteriorates as network topology changes become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic adaptation where router nodes continuously monitor for changes in network topology, automatically detect new neighboring nodes, and dynamically establish or modify secure tunnels as needed. When nodes are added, removed, or relocated, the system automatically updates routing tables and re-establishes connections without manual intervention, enabling flexible redeployment in response to attrition, logistics changes, or topology modifications.
3Reliability
If security protection measures are implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to obscuring of routing path and metrics
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the network communication into separate secure tunnels for different purposes (management traffic versus data traffic). Each tunnel is established independently with its own routing table and IP address configuration, allowing complex security requirements to be divided into manageable, modular components. This segmentation simplifies the overall system by organizing security functions into discrete, independently configurable units.
Data Source
AI summary
Method of creating secure tunnel(s), a router node (RN) implementing same and a network comprising RNs is provided. Method comprises connecting a RN to the network. RN comprises bearer interfaces, each having a VRF module; receiving, from neighbouring nodes (NNs), loopback address(es) for bearer interface(s) in the NNs, and detecting, using the RN, routing prefix(es) associated with a tunnel within the loopback address(es). In response using the RN to: build a routing table (RT) comprising loopback address(es) for a bearer interface of the same type in one of the NNs; extract, from the RT, an IP address per tunnel being created; and set each extracted IP address as the destination address for each tunnel. Method comprises establishing a tunnel to each NN, by selecting a bearer interface for each NN; learning the set destination addresses and building the tunnel to each NN using the learnt destination addresses.