Shortest path bridge with mpls labels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016277291-A1
Application number	US-201514664141-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 20, 2015
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method is implemented by a node for enabling shortest path bridging in a network that is scalable to support sixteen million virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers using multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) encapsulation. The method comprises allocating a tunnel label using a distributed tunnel label allocation algorithm, allocating a source label using a distributed source label allocation algorithm, assigning a bridge instance a service label, and distributing the tunnel label, source label and service label to other nodes in the MPLS network.

First claim

1 . A method implemented by a node for enabling shortest path bridging in a network that is scalable to support sixteen million virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers using multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) encapsulation, the method comprising the steps of:
allocating a tunnel label using a distributed tunnel label allocation algorithm; allocating a source label using a distributed source label allocation algorithm; assigning a bridge instance a service label; and distributing the tunnel label, source label and service label to other nodes in the MPLS network.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a destination bridge in the MPLS network for a data packet; generating an MPLS encapsulated data packet; adding a source label for the source bridge in the MPLS network to the MPLS encapsulated data packet; adding a service label identifying a destination bridge in the MPLS network to the MPLS encapsulated data packet; adding a tunnel label identifying a tunnel from the source bridge to the destination bridge in the MPLS encapsulated data packet; and forwarding the MPLS encapsulated data packets to the tunnel interface of the tunnel identified by the tunnel label.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein distributing the tunnel label, source label and service label is performed using intermediate system-intermediate system (IS-IS) to advertise the tunnel label, the source label and the service label.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein distributing the tunnel label, source label and service label is performed using label distribution protocol (LDP) to advertise the tunnel label, the source label and the service label.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein allocating a tunnel label comprises:
allocating a tunnel label for a multicast group.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
assigning a locally unique service label to each bridge interest on the node.

7 . A network device functioning as a node implementing a method for enabling shortest path bridging in a network that is scalable to support sixteen million virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers using multiprotocol label swapping (MPLS) encapsulation, the network device comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein a shortest path bridging label mode (SPBL) module; and a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the processor configured to execute the SPBL module, the SPBL module configured to allocate a tunnel label using a distributed tunnel label allocation algorithm, to allocate a source label using a distributed source label allocation algorithm, to assign a bridge instance a service label, and to distribute the tunnel label, source label and service label to other nodes in the MPLS network.

8 . The network device of claim 7 , wherein the SPBL module is further configured to determine a destination bridge in the MPLS network for a data packet, to generate an MPLS encapsulated data packet, to add a source label for the source bridge in the MPLS network to the MPLS encapsulated data packet, to add a service label identifying a destination bridge in the MPLS network to the MPLS encapsulated data packet, to add a tunnel label identifying a tunnel from the source bridge to the destination bridge in the MPLS encapsulated data packet, and to forward the MPLS encapsulated data packets to the tunnel interface of the tunnel identified by the tunnel label.

9 . The network device of claim 7 , wherein the SBPL module is further configured to distribute the tunnel label, source label and service label by using intermediate system-intermediate system (IS-IS) to advertise the tunnel label, the source label and the service label.

10 . The network device of claim 7 , wherein the SPBL module is further configured to distribute the tunnel label, source label and service label by using label distribution protocol (LDP) to advertise the tunnel label, the source label and the service label.

11 . The network device of claim 7 , wherein the SBPL module is further configured to allocate a tunnel label comprises allocating a tunnel label for a multicast group.

12 . The network device of claim 7 , wherein the SBPL module is further configured to assign a locally unique service label to each bridge interest on the node.

13 . A computing device functioning as a node of a network domain, the computing device to execute a plurality of virtual machines for implementing network function virtualization (NFV), wherein a virtual machine from the plurality of virtual machines is configured to implement a method for enabling shortest path bridging in a network that is scalable to support sixteen million virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers using multiprotocol label swapping (MPLS) encapsulation, the computing device comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein a shortest path bridging label mode (SPBL) module; and a processor coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the processor configured to execute the virtual machine, the virtual machine configured to execute the SPBL module, the SPBL module configured to allocate a tunnel label using a distributed tunnel label allocation algorithm, to allocate a source label using a distributed source label allocation algorithm, to assign a bridge instance a service label, and to distribute the tunnel label, source label and service label to other nodes in the MPLS network.

14 . The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the SPBL module is further configured to determine a destination bridge in the MPLS network for a data packet, to generate an MPLS encapsulated data packet, to add a source label for the source bridge in the MPLS network to the MPLS encapsulated data packet, to add a service label identifying a destination bridge in the MPLS network to the MPLS encapsulated data packet, to add a tunnel label identifying a tunnel from the source bridge to the destination bridge in the MPLS encapsulated data packet, and to forward the MPLS encapsulated data packets to the tunnel interface of the tunnel identified by the tunnel label.

15 . The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the SBPL module is further configured to distribute the tunnel label, source label and service label by using intermediate system-intermediate system (IS-IS) to advertise the tunnel label, the source label and the service label.

16 . The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the SPBL module is further configured to distribute the tunnel label, source label and service label by using label distribution protocol (LDP) to advertise the tunnel label, the source label and the service label.

17 . The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the SBPL module is further configured to allocate a tunnel label comprises allocating a tunnel label for a multicast group.

18 . The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the SBPL module is further configured to assign a locally unique service label to each bridge interest on the node.

19 . A control plane device is configured to implement a control plane of a software defined networking (SDN) network including a plurality of network devices implementing the method for enabling shortest path bridging in a network that is scalable to support sixteen million virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers using multiprotocol label swapping (MPLS) encapsulation, the control plane device comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein a shortest path bridging label mode (SPBL) module

Assignees

• Ericsson Telefon Ab L M

Inventors

• Lakshmikanthan Ramanathan
• Tian Albert Jining
• Lu Wenhu
• Tantsura Evgeny

Classifications

• H04L12/4641

  Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] (LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272) · CPC title

• H04L45/12

  Shortest path evaluation · CPC title

• H04L45/507 Primary

  Label distribution · CPC title

• H04L12/4633

  Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling · CPC title

• H04L12/465

  wherein a single frame includes a plurality of VLAN tags · CPC title