Forwarding detection for point-to-multipoint label switched paths
First Claim
1. A method of verifying connectivity of paths through a computer network containing a plurality of network devices, the method comprising:
- establishing a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) point-to-multipoint (P2MP) label switched path (LSP) for transporting packets through a network, wherein the P2MP LSP includes a source device providing an ingress to the P2MP LSP and a plurality of destination devices providing a plurality of different egress devices from the P2MP LSP;
using a P2MP Label Switched Path (LSP) ping protocol, sending an LSP ping echo request along the P2MP LSP, wherein the LSP ping echo request embeds a discriminator to establish a Multipoint Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (MP BFD) session for testing connectivity of the P2MP LSP in accordance with a MP BFD protocol, and wherein the LSP ping echo request includes an indicator specifying that the egress devices of the P2MP LSP should not reply to the LSP ping echo request with an LSP ping echo reply to establish the MP BFD session; and
without receiving an LSP ping echo reply from the egress devices, initiating connectivity verification of the P2MP LSP by outputting BFD packets on the MP BFD session with the ingress device according to the MP BFD protocol.
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Abstract
Techniques are described for verifying the connectivity status of multiple paths through a computer network. The techniques may be useful in testing the connectivity of label switched paths (LSPs), and particularly useful point-to-multipoint (P2MP) LSPs. In some embodiments, a P2MP label switched path (LSP) ping protocol may be used a first connectivity verification protocol for the P2MP LSP and a Multipoint Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (MP BFD) protocol may be used as a second connectivity verification protocol. In addition, use of the LSP ping protocol for connectivity testing of the P2MP LSP may be used to boot-strap session information for MP BFD sessions with egress devices of the P2MP LSP.
110 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of verifying connectivity of paths through a computer network containing a plurality of network devices, the method comprising:
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establishing a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) point-to-multipoint (P2MP) label switched path (LSP) for transporting packets through a network, wherein the P2MP LSP includes a source device providing an ingress to the P2MP LSP and a plurality of destination devices providing a plurality of different egress devices from the P2MP LSP; using a P2MP Label Switched Path (LSP) ping protocol, sending an LSP ping echo request along the P2MP LSP, wherein the LSP ping echo request embeds a discriminator to establish a Multipoint Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (MP BFD) session for testing connectivity of the P2MP LSP in accordance with a MP BFD protocol, and wherein the LSP ping echo request includes an indicator specifying that the egress devices of the P2MP LSP should not reply to the LSP ping echo request with an LSP ping echo reply to establish the MP BFD session; and without receiving an LSP ping echo reply from the egress devices, initiating connectivity verification of the P2MP LSP by outputting BFD packets on the MP BFD session with the ingress device according to the MP BFD protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 22)
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8. A method of verifying connectivity of paths through a computer network containing a plurality of network devices, the method comprising:
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establishing a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) point-to-multipoint (P2MP) label switched path (LSP) for transporting packets through a network, wherein the P2MP LSP includes a source device providing an ingress to the P2MP LSP and a plurality of destination devices providing a plurality of different egress devices from the P2MP LSP; detecting, with an application service executing within the computer network, a new egress device joining the application service and providing an egress to the P2MP LSP; with the application service, directing the source device to use a P2MP Label Switched Path (LSP) Ping protocol to send an LSP ping echo request along the P2MP LSP and addressed to the new egress device, wherein the LSP ping echo request embeds a discriminator to establish a Multipoint Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (MP BFD) session for testing connectivity of the P2MP LSP in accordance with the MP BFD protocol wherein the LSP ping echo request includes an indicator specifying that the egress devices of the P2MP LSP should not reply to the LSP ping echo request with an LSP ping echo reply to establish the MP BFD session; and initiating connectivity verification of the P2MP LSP by outputting BFD packets, with the ingress device, on the MP BFD according to the MP BFD protocol. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A network device comprising:
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a control unit comprising hardware to execute a label distribution protocol to establish a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) point-to-multipoint (P2MP) label switched path (LSP) for transporting packets through a network, wherein the P2MP LSP includes a source device providing an ingress to the P2MP LSP and a plurality of destination devices providing a plurality of different egress devices from the P2MP LSP; an Label Switched Path (LSP) Ping protocol executing within the control unit to send an LSP ping echo request along the P2MP LSP, wherein the LSP ping echo request embeds a discriminator to establish a Multipoint Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (MP BFD) session for testing connectivity of the P2MP LSP in accordance with the MP BFD protocol, and wherein the LSP ping echo request includes an indicator specifying that the egress devices of the P2MP LSP should not reply to the LSP ping echo request with an LSP ping echo reply to establish the MP BFD session; and a BFD protocol module executing within the control unit to, without receiving an LSP ping echo reply from the egress devices, initiating connectivity verification of the P2MP LSP by outputting BFD packets on the BFD session according to the MP BFD protocol. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A network device comprising:
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a control unit comprising hardware to execute an application service, an Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) protocol, a point-to-multipoint (P2MP) Label Switched Path (LSP) Ping protocol, and a Multipoint Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (MP BFD) protocol module; wherein the MPLS protocol establishes a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) P2MP label switched path (LSP) for transporting packets for the application service through a network, wherein the P2MP LSP includes a source device providing an ingress to the P2MP LSP and a plurality of destination devices providing a plurality of different egress devices from the P2MP LSP; wherein the application service detects a new egress device joining the application service and directs the source device to use the LSP ping protocol to send an LSP ping echo request along the P2MP LSP and addressed to the new egress device, wherein the LSP ping echo request embeds a discriminator to establish a Multipoint Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (MP BFD) session for testing connectivity of the P2MP LSP in accordance with the MP BFD protocol, and wherein the LSP ping echo request includes an indicator specifying that the egress devices of the P2MP LSP should not reply to the LSP ping echo request with an LSP ping echo reply to establish the MP BFD session; and wherein the MP BFD protocol module, without receiving an LSP ping echo reply from the egress devices, initiating connectivity verification of the P2MP LSP by outputting BFD packets on the MP BFD session according to the Bidirectional Forwarding Detection protocol. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification