GENERALIZED MULTI-HOMING FOR VIRTUAL PRIVATE LAN SERVICES

• US 20120219004A1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Balus, Florin, Henderickx, Wim, Bhau, Nehal, Lynn, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,665,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.53
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 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

Abstract

A generalized multi-homing capability is depicted and described herein. The generalized multi-homing capability supports use of a generalized multi-homed site object and associated generalized multi-homed site identifier for Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS). For example, a generalized multi-homed site object may be generated using a multi-homed site object by associating an Ethernet endpoint object and a pseudowire endpoint object with the multi-homed site object. For example, a generalized multi-homed site object may be generated using a multi-homed site object by associating an Ethernet endpoint object with the multi-homed site object and associating one or more Ethernet-related objects with the Ethernet endpoint object. The generalized multi-homed site object is configured to support multiple types of endpoints, thereby enabling multi-homing to be supported for various types of devices in various types of networks (e.g., between devices of customer and service provider networks, between devices within a service provider network, between devices of different service provider networks, and the like) and for various types of services.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating a generalized multi-homed site object, comprising:

a processor configured to;

identify a multi-homed site object for a Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) Service (VPLS);

associate an Ethernet endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS; and

associate a pseudowire endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

associate a Virtual LAN (VLAN) Identifier object with the Ethernet endpoint object.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

associate a G.8031 tunnel object with the Ethernet endpoint object.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

associate a G.8032 ring object with the Ethernet endpoint object.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

associate a Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) signaled object with the pseudowire endpoint object.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

associate a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) signaled object with the pseudowire endpoint object.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, where the processor is configured to initiate storage of the generalized multi-homed site object in a memory.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory configure to store the generalized multi-homed site object.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

execute a designated forwarder election algorithm for determining whether or not the generalized multi-homed site object is elected as the designated forwarder for the VPLS.

10. A method for generating a generalized multi-homed site object, comprising:

using a processor for;

identifying a multi-homed site object for a Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) Service (VPLS);

associating an Ethernet endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS; and

associating a pseudowire endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS.

11. An apparatus for generating a generalized multi-homed site object, comprising:

a processor configured to;

identify a multi-homed site object for a Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) Service (VPLS);

associate an Ethernet endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS; and

perform at least one of;

associate a Virtual LAN (ULAN) Identifier object with the Ethernet endpoint object;

associate a G.8031 tunnel object with the Ethernet endpoint object; and

associate a G.8032 ring object with the Ethernet endpoint object.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to perform at least two of:

associate a Virtual LAN (VLAN) Identifier object with the Ethernet endpoint object;

associate a G.8031 tunnel object with the Ethernet endpoint object; and

associate a G.8032 ring object with the Ethernet endpoint object.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to perform each of:

associate a Virtual LNA (VLAN) Identifier object with the Ethernet endpoint object;

associate a G.8031 tunnel object with the Ethernet endpoint object; and

associate a G.8032 ring object with the Ethernet endpoint object.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to:

associate a pseudowire endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to:

associate a Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) signaled object with the pseudowire endpoint object.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to:

associate a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) signaled object with the pseudowire endpoint object.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, where the processor is configured to initiate storage of the generalized multi-homed site object in a memory.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a memory configured to store the generalized multi-homed site object.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to:

execute a designated forwarder election algorithm for determining whether or not the generalized multi-homed site object is elected as the designated forwarder for the VPLS.

20. A method for generating a generalized multi-homed site object, comprising:

using a processor for;

identifying a multi-homed site object for a Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) Service (VPLS);

associating an Ethernet endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS; and

performing at least one of;

associating a Virtual LAN (VLAN) Identifier object with the Ethernet endpoint object;

associating a G.8031 tunnel object with the Ethernet endpoint object; and

associating a G.8032 ring object with the Ethernet endpoint object.