VXLAN Switch Fabric Board Layer 3 Multicast Forwarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gateway proxies do not support VXLAN technology, limiting their ability to perform layer 3 forwarding for multicast data packets, and existing solutions do not efficiently implement layer 3 gateway functions in VXLAN switches.
Innovation Solution
A VXLAN switch with a fabric board equipped with forwarding and entry functions, including switch chips, enables layer 3 forwarding of multicast data packets by cooperating with the I/O board to remove VXLAN encapsulation, determine forwarding modes, and add internal encapsulations to ensure efficient packet forwarding between different I/O boards and fabric boards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If gateway proxies are used for VXLAN encapsulation and decapsulation, then hardware configuration changes are avoided, but layer 3 forwarding capability for multicast data packets is not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into I/O boards that handle VXLAN encapsulation/decapsulation and fabric boards that handle layer 3 multicast forwarding. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific functions, enabling layer 3 forwarding capability without requiring complete hardware redesign of gateway proxies.
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric board acts as an intermediary component between the I/O board and the multicast group member ports. It receives multicast data packets from I/O boards, performs layer 3 forwarding based on multicast group information, and sends packets to appropriate destinations, thereby adding layer 3 capability to the system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional VXLAN switching is implemented, then layer 2 virtual private network functionality is provided, but layer 3 gateway functions and efficient multicast forwarding are not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges layer 2 VXLAN switching functionality with layer 3 gateway functions in a single switch device. The I/O boards maintain VXLAN encapsulation capabilities while fabric boards add layer 3 multicast forwarding, creating a unified system that provides both layer 2 VPN functionality and layer 3 gateway services.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from pure layer 2 VXLAN switching to a multi-dimensional architecture that incorporates layer 3 forwarding capabilities. By adding the fabric board dimension for layer 3 processing while maintaining I/O boards for layer 2 operations, the system achieves both layer 2 VPN functionality and layer 3 multicast forwarding efficiency.
3Speed
If multicast data packets are forwarded through traditional methods, then basic routing is achieved, but wire-speed forwarding without bandwidth wastage is not realized
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing multicast group information in the fabric board before actual multicast data packet forwarding occurs. This allows the fabric board to quickly match incoming packets with pre-configured group information, enabling wire-speed forwarding without bandwidth wastage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional sequential packet processing with a parallel matching mechanism. The fabric board uses parallel pattern matching against pre-configured multicast group information, enabling simultaneous processing of multiple packet streams at wire speed without the bandwidth inefficiencies of traditional sequential forwarding methods.
Data Source
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AI summary
An I/O board of a VXLAN switch receives a multicast data packet having a first VXLAN encapsulation, removes the first VXLAN encapsulation, determines that layer 3 multicast forwarding is to be performed for the multicast data packet, and sends the multicast data packet to a fabric board. The fabric board determines that layer 3 multicast forwarding is to be performed for the multicast data packet. When a multicast group member port corresponding to the multicast data packet is a VXLAN tunnel port, the fabric board modifies a source MAC address of the multicast data packet and sends the modified multicast data packet to an I/O board corresponding to the multicast group member port. The I/O board corresponding to the multicast group member port adds a second VXLAN encapsulation to the multicast data packet and forwards the multicast data packet having the second VXLAN encapsulation to a VXLAN.