VIRTUAL SERVICE TOPOLOGIES IN VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORKS

• US 20140313928A1
• Filed: 04/18/2013
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rao, Dhananjaya, Guichard, Jim, Quinn, Paul, Fernando, Rex
• Granted Patent: US 9,344,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/0377 for service chaining
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/70 Virtual switches

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes storing a service topology route at a network device interconnecting at least two zones comprising a plurality of hosts, and propagating the service topology route to create a service chain comprising a service node in communication with the network device. The service topology route creates a forwarding state at network devices in the service chain for use in inter-zone routing in a virtual private network. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing a service topology route at a network device interconnecting at least two zones comprising a plurality of hosts; and

propagating the service topology route to create a service chain comprising a service node in communication with the network device;

wherein the service topology route creates a forwarding state at network devices in said service chain for use in inter-zone routing in a virtual private network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the service topology route comprises provisioning a service route target at the network device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the service route target comprises a service topology route target and at least one of a service import route target and a service export route target.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating at the network device, the forwarding state for a zone prefix.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving traffic in said service chain, forwarding the traffic to the service node, receiving the traffic from the service node, and forwarding the traffic in said service chain towards a destination.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the network device comprises a layer 3 virtual private network device.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a control plane message comprising service topology information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the network device comprises a destination service device and further comprising generating the service topology route.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the network devices in the service chain comprise a source service device and a destination service device, the source service device provisioned with a service topology route target and a service import route target, the destination service device provisioned with a service topology route target and a service export route target.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a processor for creating a forwarding state at the apparatus and processing traffic in a virtual service topology based on said forwarding state, the virtual service topology connecting at least two zones comprising a plurality of hosts, through at least one service node; and

memory for storing a service topology route generated at a network device in the virtual service topology and propagated to create a service chain for inter-zone traffic.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the service topology route comprises a service topology route target and at least one of a service import route target and a service export route target.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the processor is further configured for receiving traffic in said service chain, forwarding the traffic to the service node, receiving the traffic from the service node, and forwarding the traffic in said service chain towards a destination.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the apparatus comprises a layer 3 virtual private network device.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the apparatus comprises a destination service device and wherein the processor is operable to generate the service topology route.

15. Logic encoded on one or more tangible computer readable media for execution and when executed operable to:

store a service topology route at a network device interconnecting at least two zones comprising a plurality of hosts; and

propagate the service topology route to create a service chain comprising a service node in communication with the network device;

wherein the service topology route creates a forwarding state at network devices in said service chain for use in inter-zone routing in a virtual private network.

16. The logic of claim 15 wherein the service topology route comprises a service topology route target and at least one of a service import route target and a service export route target.

17. The logic of claim 15 further operable to forward traffic received in said service chain to the service node and forward the traffic received from the service node in said service chain towards a destination.

18. The logic of claim 15 further operable to receive a border gateway protocol message comprising service topology information.

19. The logic of claim 15 further operable to generate the service topology route at a destination service device.

20. The logic of claim 15 wherein the network devices in the service chain comprise a source service device and a destination service device, the source service device provisioned with a service topology route target and a service import route target, the destination service device provisioned with a service topology route target and a service export route target.