Bandwidth control for ring-based multi-protocol label switched paths
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- outputting, with a plurality of routers connected as a ring network, a plurality of messages in accordance with a label distribution protocol to establish a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) ring having at least one ring label switched path (LSP) to transport MPLS packets around the ring network to one of the routers operating as an egress router for the ring LSP, wherein the ring LSP comprises a bidirectional multipoint-to-point (MP2P) LSP for which any of the routers within the ring network can operate as an ingress to source packet traffic into the ring LSP for transport in an upstream direction and a downstream direction around the ring network to the egress router for the ring LSP, and wherein each of the messages output by the routers specifies bandwidth requirements in a downstream direction to the egress router for any packet traffic to be sourced into the ring LSP by the respective one of the routers around the ring LSP;
after establishing the ring LSP, receiving, with a first intermediate one of the routers around the ring LSP, first configuration data provisioning additional network traffic to be sourced by the first intermediate one of the routers into the ring LSP;
responsive to receiving the first configuration data, outputting an updated message with the first intermediate one of the routers to reserve bandwidth in the downstream direction around the ring LSP for the additional network traffic; and
forwarding network traffic as MPLS packets around the ring network in accordance with the ring LSP.
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Abstract
Techniques are described for specifying and constructing multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) rings. Routers may signal membership within MPLS rings and automatically establish ring-based label switch paths (LSPs) as components of the MPLS rings for packet transport within ring networks. In one example, a router includes a processor configured to establish an MPLS ring having a plurality of ring LSPs. Each of the ring LSPs is configured to transport MPLS packets around the ring network to a different one of the routers operating as an egress router for the respective ring LSP. Moreover, each of the ring LSPs comprises a bidirectional, multipoint-to-point (MP2P) LSP for which any of the routers can operate as an ingress to source packet traffic into the ring LSP for transport to the respective egress router for the ring LSP. Separate protection paths, bypass LSPs, detours or loop-free alternatives need not be signaled.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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outputting, with a plurality of routers connected as a ring network, a plurality of messages in accordance with a label distribution protocol to establish a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) ring having at least one ring label switched path (LSP) to transport MPLS packets around the ring network to one of the routers operating as an egress router for the ring LSP, wherein the ring LSP comprises a bidirectional multipoint-to-point (MP2P) LSP for which any of the routers within the ring network can operate as an ingress to source packet traffic into the ring LSP for transport in an upstream direction and a downstream direction around the ring network to the egress router for the ring LSP, and wherein each of the messages output by the routers specifies bandwidth requirements in a downstream direction to the egress router for any packet traffic to be sourced into the ring LSP by the respective one of the routers around the ring LSP; after establishing the ring LSP, receiving, with a first intermediate one of the routers around the ring LSP, first configuration data provisioning additional network traffic to be sourced by the first intermediate one of the routers into the ring LSP; responsive to receiving the first configuration data, outputting an updated message with the first intermediate one of the routers to reserve bandwidth in the downstream direction around the ring LSP for the additional network traffic; and forwarding network traffic as MPLS packets around the ring network in accordance with the ring LSP. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A router comprising:
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a plurality of physical interfaces interconnecting the router as one of a plurality of routers forming a ring network; a processor executing a label distribution protocol to communicate with the other routers using messages to establish a ring label switched path (LSP) configured to transport multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) packets around the ring network to one of the routers operating as an egress router for the ring LSP, wherein the processor is configured to establish the ring LSP as a bidirectional multipoint-to-point (MP2P) LSP for which any of the routers within the ring network can operate as an ingress to source packet traffic into the ring LSP for transport in an upstream direction and a downstream direction around the ring network to the egress router for the ring LSP, wherein each of the messages specifies bandwidth requirements in a downstream direction to the egress router for any packet traffic to be sourced into the ring LSP by the router, and wherein the processor is configured to, after establishing the ring LSP and responsive to receiving configuration data provisioning additional network traffic to be sourced by the router into the ring LSP, output a first updated message to reserve bandwidth in the downstream direction around the ring LSP for the additional network traffic; and a forwarding component to forward network traffic as MPLS packets around the ring network in accordance with the ring LSP. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer-readable storage device storing instructions that cause a processor of a router to:
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output messages in accordance with a label distribution protocol to establish an multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) ring label switched path (LSP) configured to transport MPLS packets around the ring network to one of the routers operating as an egress router for the ring LSP, wherein the ring LSP comprises a bidirectional multipoint-to-point (MP2P) LSP for which any of the routers within the ring network can operate as an ingress to source packet traffic into the ring LSP for transport in an upstream direction and a downstream direction around the ring network to the egress router for the ring LSP, and wherein the messages specifies bandwidth requirements in a downstream direction to the egress router for any packet traffic to be sourced into the ring LSP by the router; after establishing the ring LSP and responsive to receiving configuration data provisioning additional network traffic to be sourced by the router into the ring LSP, output a first updated message to reserve bandwidth in the downstream direction around the ring LSP for the additional network traffic; and install forwarding information within a forwarding component of the router to forward traffic as MPLS packets around the ring network in accordance with the ring LSP.
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Specification