Transmission of layer two (L2) multicast traffic over multi-protocol label switching networks
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- establishing a plurality of branch label switched paths (LSPs), wherein each of the branch LSPs have a same source device and a different one of multiple receiver devices within a computer network, and wherein two or more of the branch LSPs are configured to operate over a single physical interface of the source device;
merging, at the source device, the plurality of branch LSPs to establish a point to multi-point (P2MP) LSP having the source device and the multiple receiver devices, wherein the source device provides an ingress for the P2MP LSP, and wherein each of the multiple receiver devices provides at least one of multiple egresses for the P2MP LSP;
connecting an ingress layer two (L2) interface to the P2MP LSP with a circuit cross-connect (CCC) switch within the source device such that the ingress L2 interface is connected to the single physical interface;
receiving a L2 multicast data unit on the ingress L2 interface of the source device;
encapsulating the L2 multicast data unit in a packet; and
forwarding only a single copy of the packet on the physical interface for transmission to the multiple receiver devices via the P2MP LSP connected to the ingress L2 interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Principles of the invention relate to techniques for transmission of Layer 2 (L2) multicast traffic over a point to multi-point (P2MP) label switched path (LSP) within a multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network. The principles of the invention include configuring circuit cross-connect (CCC) switches that transparently cross-connect L2 interfaces to a P2MP LSP within an MPLS network. The transparent cross-connections allow L2 multicast traffic to be encapsulated as MPLS packets regardless of the type of payload the L2 multicast traffic is carrying. A CCC switch may be configured within an ingress router of a P2MP LSP to cross connect an L2 interface to the P2MP LSP. CCC switches may also be configured within each egress router of the P2MP LSP to cross-connect each leaf of the P2MP LSP to one or more L2 interfaces.
130 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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establishing a plurality of branch label switched paths (LSPs), wherein each of the branch LSPs have a same source device and a different one of multiple receiver devices within a computer network, and wherein two or more of the branch LSPs are configured to operate over a single physical interface of the source device; merging, at the source device, the plurality of branch LSPs to establish a point to multi-point (P2MP) LSP having the source device and the multiple receiver devices, wherein the source device provides an ingress for the P2MP LSP, and wherein each of the multiple receiver devices provides at least one of multiple egresses for the P2MP LSP; connecting an ingress layer two (L2) interface to the P2MP LSP with a circuit cross-connect (CCC) switch within the source device such that the ingress L2 interface is connected to the single physical interface; receiving a L2 multicast data unit on the ingress L2 interface of the source device; encapsulating the L2 multicast data unit in a packet; and forwarding only a single copy of the packet on the physical interface for transmission to the multiple receiver devices via the P2MP LSP connected to the ingress L2 interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A network device comprising:
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at least one signaling protocol that establishes a plurality of branch label switched paths (LSPs), wherein each of the branch LSPs have a same source device and a different one of multiple receiver devices within a computer network, and wherein two or more of the branch LSPs are configured to operate over a single physical interface of the source device, wherein the at least one signaling protocol merges the plurality of branch LSPs to establish a point to multi-point (P2MP) LSP through the computer network, wherein the source device of the computer network provides an ingress for the P2MP LSP and each of the multiple receiver devices of the computer network provides at least one of multiple egresses for the P2MP LSP; at least one layer two (L2) interface card having an L2 interface; and a circuit cross-connect (CCC) module that cross-connects the L2 interface to the P2MP LSP such that the L2 interface is connected to the single physical interface, wherein the network device comprises the source device of the P2MP LSP, and wherein the CCC module receives L2 multicast data unit on the L2 interface, encapsulates wherein the L2 multicast data unit in a packet for output on the P2MP LSP and forwards only a single copy of the packet on the physical interface for transmission to the multiple receiver devices via the P2MP LSP connected to the L2 interface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a programmable processor to:
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establish a plurality of branch label switched paths (LSPs), wherein each of the branch LSPs have a same source device and a different one of multiple receiver devices within a computer network, and wherein two or more of the branch LSPs are configured to operate over a single physical interface of the source device; merging, at the source device, the plurality of branch LSPs to establish a point to multi-point (P2MP) LSP having the source device and the multiple receiver devices, wherein the receiver devices are associated with leaf nodes of the P2MP LSP, wherein the source device provides an ingress for the P2MP LSP, and wherein each of the multiple receiver devices provides an egress for the P2MP LSP; connect an ingress layer two (L2) interface to the P2MP LSP with a circuit cross-connect (CCC) switch such that the ingress L2 interface connects to the physical interface within the source device; receive a L2 multicast data unit on the ingress L2 interface of the source device; encapsulate the L2 multicast data unit in a packet; and forward only a single copy of the packet on the physical interface for transmission to the multiple receiver devices via the P2MP LSP connected to the ingress L2 interface.
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34. A system comprising:
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a plurality of receiver devices; a source device comprising; a single physical interface; at least one signaling protocol that establishes a plurality of branch label switched paths (LSPs), wherein each of the branch LSPs are established from the source device to a different one of the plurality of receiver devices within a computer network, wherein two or more of the branch LSPs are configured to operate over the single physical interface of the source device, wherein the signaling protocol merges the plurality of branch LSPs to establish a point to multi-point (P2MP) LSP through the computer network, and wherein the source device of the computer network provides an ingress for the P2MP LSP and each of the plurality of receiver devices of the computer network provides at least one of multiple egresses for the P2MP LSP; at least one layer two (L2) interface card having an L2 interface; and a circuit cross-connect (CCC) module that cross-connects the L2 interface to the P2MP LSP such that the L2 interface is connected to the single physical interface, wherein the network device comprises the source device of the P2MP LSP, and wherein the CCC module receives L2 multicast data unit on the L2 interface, encapsulates wherein the L2 multicast data unit in a packet for output on the P2MP LSP and forwards only a single copy of the packet on the physical interface for transmission to the multiple receiver devices via the P2MP LSP connected to the L2 interface, and wherein each of the plurality of receiver devices includes at least one L2 egress interface and a CCC switch that cross-connects the P2MP LSP to the at least one L2 egress interface. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification