Methods for providing rendezvous point router redundancy in sparse mode multicast networks
First Claim
1. In a packet network including a plurality of operably connected router elements, whereby in a sparse mode multicast protocol, one or more of the router elements are configured as candidate rendezvous points, and whereby two or more of the candidate rendezvous points share a common link, defining a shared subnet, a method comprising:
- selecting, from among the candidate rendezvous points of the shared subnet, a single designated candidate rendezvous point (DCRP) and zero or more virtual candidate rendezvous points (VCRPs).
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Router elements R1, R2 of a packet network 100 using a sparse mode multicast protocol are configured as candidate rendezvous points (RPs). The candidate RPs use a virtual IP address. In each shared subnet, there is selected from among the candidate RPs a single designated candidate rendezvous point (DCRP) and zero or more virtual candidate rendezvous points (VCRPs). The DCRP serves as an active candidate RP (and when elected, performs RP functions); and the VCRP(s) serve as backup to the DCRP. The VCRP(s) maintain state information to facilitate rapid takeover of DCRP functionality upon failure of the DCRP. In one embodiment, geographically separate domains 1006, 1008 are each implemented with separate active DCRPs, defining multiple, simultaneously active anycast RPs (DCRP1, DCRP2) with MSDP peering between the DCRPs. The DCRP(s) may include backup VCRP(s) for redundancy.
-
Citations
28 Claims
-
1. In a packet network including a plurality of operably connected router elements, whereby in a sparse mode multicast protocol, one or more of the router elements are configured as candidate rendezvous points, and whereby two or more of the candidate rendezvous points share a common link, defining a shared subnet, a method comprising:
selecting, from among the candidate rendezvous points of the shared subnet, a single designated candidate rendezvous point (DCRP) and zero or more virtual candidate rendezvous points (VCRPs). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
13. In a packet network including a designated candidate rendezvous point (DCRP) and a virtual candidate rendezvous point (VCRP) on a shared subnet, the DCRP serving as an active rendezvous point (RP) for a multicast group according to a sparse mode multicast protocol, a method comprising:
-
receiving, by the DCRP, a control message comprising one of a Join message and Prune message associated with the multicast group;
determining, by the DCRP, whether the control message was received by the VCRP; and
if the control message was determined not to be received by the VCRP, sending the control message from the DCRP to the VCRP. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. In a packet network including a designated candidate rendezvous point (DCRP) and a virtual candidate rendezvous point (VCRP) on a shared subnet, the DCRP serving as an active rendezvous point (RP) for a multicast group according to a sparse mode multicast protocol, a method comprising:
-
receiving, by the DCRP, a data packet associated with the multicast group;
extracting, by the DCRP, state information from the data packet; and
sending the state information from the DCRP to the VCRP. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
-
20. In a packet network including a plurality of operably connected router elements, whereby in a sparse mode multicast protocol, one or more of the router elements are configured as candidate rendezvous points, and whereby a plurality of sets of candidate rendezvous points share respective common links, defining a plurality of shared subnets, a method comprising:
selecting, from among the candidate rendezvous points of each of the shared subnets, a single designated candidate rendezvous point (DCRP) and zero or more virtual candidate rendezvous points (VCRPs). - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
Specification