Boarder Gateway Protocol Signaling to Support a Very Large Number of Virtual Private Networks
First Claim
1. In virtual private network (VPN) communications, a method for Boarder Gateway Protocol (BGP) signaling implemented by a first network element, the method comprising:
- encoding Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) information in a Network Layer Reachability Information (NLRI) label field that is longer than 24 bits; and
transmitting a BGP update message comprising a BGP attribute to a second network element, wherein the BGP attribute comprises the NLRI and a specific Subsequent Address Family Identifier (SAFI) value, and wherein the specific SAFI value signals to the second network element, upon reception of the BGP update message by the second network element, that the NLRI label field is more than 24 bits long.
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are example embodiments for Boarder Gateway Protocol (BGP) signaling in virtual private network (VPN) communications. For example, a first network element may encode Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) information in a Network Layer Reachability Information (NLRI) label field that is longer than 24 bits, and transmit a BGP update message comprising a BGP attribute to a second network element. The BGP attribute comprises the NLRI and a specific Subsequent Address Family Identifier (SAFI) value. The specific SAFI value signals to the second network element, upon reception of the BGP update message by the second network element, that the NLRI label field is more than 24 bits long.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In virtual private network (VPN) communications, a method for Boarder Gateway Protocol (BGP) signaling implemented by a first network element, the method comprising:
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encoding Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) information in a Network Layer Reachability Information (NLRI) label field that is longer than 24 bits; and transmitting a BGP update message comprising a BGP attribute to a second network element, wherein the BGP attribute comprises the NLRI and a specific Subsequent Address Family Identifier (SAFI) value, and wherein the specific SAFI value signals to the second network element, upon reception of the BGP update message by the second network element, that the NLRI label field is more than 24 bits long. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause a first network element to:
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encode Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) information in a Network Layer Reachability Information (NLRI) label field that is longer than 24 bits; and transmit a BGP update message comprising a BGP attribute to a second network element, wherein the BGP attribute comprises the NLRI label field and a specific Subsequent Address Family Identifier (SAFI) value, and wherein the specific SAFI value signals to the second network element, upon reception of the BGP update message by the second network element, that the NLRI label field is more than 24 bits long. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus used in Multiprotocol Extensions for BGP Version 4 (BGP-4) (MP-BGP), the apparatus comprising:
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a processor configured to encode Network Layer Reachability Information (NLRI) comprising; a Label field that carries a 4-octet Big Label Value; a Prefix field that contains one or more address prefixes followed by enough trailing bits to make the end of the Prefix field fall on an octet boundary; and a Length field that indicates a total length in bits of the Big Label Value plus the one or more address prefixes; and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit a BGP update message to a network element, wherein the BGP update message comprises the NLRI and a Subsequent Address Family Identifier (SAFI) value, and wherein the SAFI value indicates to the network element that the NLRI carries the Big Label Value. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification