VRRP Multicast Root Selection for Duplicate Traffic Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multicast root node redundancy solutions waste network resources by transmitting duplicate multicast data streams over backup paths when the master path fails.
Innovation Solution
Implement a virtual router redundancy protocol (VRRP) to designate a single active multicast root node and discard redundant packets, ensuring reliable communication while minimizing network bandwidth usage by utilizing VRRP status checks and reverse path forwarding (RPF) to determine packet forwarding or discard.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a backup root node transmits multicast data stream through a backup path when the master path fails, then network reliability is improved, but network bandwidth resource is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes VRRP redundancy protection in advance, where the backup root node is pre-configured to take over when the master root node fails. This preliminary setup ensures that when failure occurs, the backup node can immediately transmit data without needing to establish alternative paths, thus avoiding unnecessary network resource consumption while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a mechanism where the backup root node discards received multicast data packets when the master root node is functioning normally, and only recovers (forwards) these packets when it detects master node failure. This selective discarding and recovering approach prevents duplicate data transmission through backup paths during normal operation, eliminating network bandwidth waste while ensuring continuity when needed.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the backup root node forwards multicast data stream when master path fails, then communication continuity is improved, but network resource occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The VRRP mechanism is pre-configured with the backup root node ready to assume the master role. This preliminary arrangement ensures communication continuity is maintained without requiring the backup node to actively forward data during normal operation, thus avoiding unnecessary network resource occupation while guaranteeing continuity when failure occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter of the backup root node dynamically: during normal operation, the backup node discards packets (parameter state: inactive forwarding); upon detecting master failure, the backup node transitions to forwarding state (parameter state: active forwarding). This parameter change ensures communication continuity while minimizing network resource occupation to only when absolutely necessary.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application discloses a multicast packet sending method, apparatus, and system. The method includes: A first multicast root node and a second multicast root node belong to a same VRRP group. The first multicast root node receives a first multicast packet from a specified multicast source, and the second multicast root node receives a second multicast packet from the same specified multicast source, where the first multicast packet and the second multicast packet include same multicast data. The first multicast root node sends the first multicast packet to a first node based on a fact that the first multicast root node is a master root node. The second multicast root node discards the second multicast packet based on a fact that the second multicast root node is a backup root node. The method is used to reduce waste of a network bandwidth resource.