Bit indexed explicit replication for layer 2 networking
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a link layer protocol frame at a link layer network device, whereinthe link layer protocol frame comprises a multicast media access control (MAC) address and a set identifier value, whereinthe set identifier value identifies a respective set of bit position mappings among a plurality of sets of bit position mappings, andeach of the plurality of sets of bit position mappings is stored in a respective bit forwarding table among a plurality of bit forwarding tables, andthe link layer network device comprises a plurality of ports;
determining whether the link layer protocol frame comprises a tag indicating that the link layer protocol frame is a bit indexed explicit replication (“
BIER”
) frame;
in response to determining that the link layer protocol frame comprises the tag indicating that the link layer protocol frame is a BIER frame,accessing a frame bit mask within the link layer protocol frame, whereinthe frame bit mask comprises a plurality of bit positions,each bit position within the frame bit mask represents a link layer destination device among a plurality of link layer destination devices, andeach of the plurality of link layer destination devices is represented by at least one relative bit position in the frame bit mask, andselecting a subset of ports of the plurality of ports by accessing a relevant bit forwarding table at the link layer network device, whereinthe selecting comprisesusing the set identifier value to select the relevant bit forwarding table from among the plurality of bit forwarding tables, andusing the frame bit mask to select the subset of ports from the relevant bit forwarding table, wherein
the subset of ports includes less than all of the plurality of ports; and
forwarding a modified copy of the link layer protocol frame to each selected port.
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Abstract
Various systems and methods for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER). For example, one method involves receiving a link layer protocol frame at a network device. The link layer protocol frame includes a MAC address that identifies the link layer protocol frame as a being a multicast frame. The method then involves selecting a subset of ports included on the network device and forwarding the link layer protocol frame to only the selected subset of ports.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a link layer protocol frame at a link layer network device, wherein the link layer protocol frame comprises a multicast media access control (MAC) address and a set identifier value, wherein the set identifier value identifies a respective set of bit position mappings among a plurality of sets of bit position mappings, and each of the plurality of sets of bit position mappings is stored in a respective bit forwarding table among a plurality of bit forwarding tables, and the link layer network device comprises a plurality of ports; determining whether the link layer protocol frame comprises a tag indicating that the link layer protocol frame is a bit indexed explicit replication (“
BIER”
) frame;in response to determining that the link layer protocol frame comprises the tag indicating that the link layer protocol frame is a BIER frame, accessing a frame bit mask within the link layer protocol frame, wherein the frame bit mask comprises a plurality of bit positions, each bit position within the frame bit mask represents a link layer destination device among a plurality of link layer destination devices, and each of the plurality of link layer destination devices is represented by at least one relative bit position in the frame bit mask, and selecting a subset of ports of the plurality of ports by accessing a relevant bit forwarding table at the link layer network device, wherein the selecting comprises using the set identifier value to select the relevant bit forwarding table from among the plurality of bit forwarding tables, and using the frame bit mask to select the subset of ports from the relevant bit forwarding table, wherein
the subset of ports includes less than all of the plurality of ports; andforwarding a modified copy of the link layer protocol frame to each selected port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A link layer network device comprising:
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a memory for storing a bit forwarding table; one or more ports configured to receive a link layer protocol frame, wherein the frame comprises a multicast media access control (MAC) address and a set identifier value, wherein the set identifier value identifies a respective set of bit position mappings among a plurality of sets of bit position mappings, and each of the plurality of sets of bit position mappings is stored in a respective bit forwarding table among a plurality of bit forwarding tables; and a processor configured to determine whether the link layer protocol frame comprises a tag indicating that the link layer protocol frame is a bit indexed explicit replication (“
BIER”
) frame,in response to determining that the link layer protocol frame comprises the tag indicating that the link layer protocol frame is a BIER frame, access a frame bit mask within the link layer protocol frame, wherein the frame bit mask comprises a plurality of bit positions, each bit position within the frame bit mask represents a link layer destination device among a plurality of link layer destination devices, and each of the plurality of link layer destination devices is represented by at least one relative bit position in the frame bit mask, and select a subset of ports of the plurality of ports joy accessing a relevant bit forwarding table at the link layer network device, wherein selecting the subset of ports comprises
using the set identifier value to select the relevant bit forwarding table from among the plurality of bit forwarding tables, and
using the frame bit mask to select the subset of ports from the relevant bit forwarding table, wherein the subset of ports includes less than all of the plurality of ports, and;forward a modified copy of the link layer protocol frame to each selected port. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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storage means for storing a bit forwarding table; network interface means for receiving a link layer protocol frame, wherein the frame comprises a multicast media access control (MAC) address and a set identifier value, wherein the set identifier value identifies a respective set of bit position mappings among a plurality of sets of bit position mappings, and each of the plurality of sets of bit position mappings is stored in a respective bit forwarding table among a plurality of bit forwarding tables, and the network interface means comprises a plurality of ports; and processing means for determining whether the link layer protocol frame comprises a tag indicating that the link layer protocol frame is a bit indexed explicit replication (“
BIER”
) frame;in response to determining that the link layer protocol frame comprises the tag indicating that the link layer protocol frame is a BIER frame, accessing a frame bit mask within the link layer protocol frame, wherein the frame bit mask comprises a plurality of bit positions, each bit position within the frame bit mask represents a link layer destination device among a plurality of link layer destination devices, and each of the plurality of intended destination devices is represented by at least one relative bit position in the frame bit mask, and selecting a subset of ports of the plurality of ports by accessing a relevant bit forwarding table at a link layer network device, wherein the selecting comprises
using the set identifier value to select the relevant bit forwarding table from among the plurality of bit forwarding tables, and
using the frame bit mask to select the subset of ports from the relevant bit forwarding table, wherein the subset of ports includes less than all of the plurality of ports, andforwarding a copy of the link layer protocol frame to each selected port. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification