Separation and isolation of multiple network stacks in a network element

• US 9,942,365 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2014
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Smith, Albert V., Amanullah, Nasir Iqbal, Dobson, Bradford J., Nakakes, Tintooda, Simmons, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao G
• Application Number:
  US14/222,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20150271304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/52 Multiprotocol routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/30 Definitions, standards or architectural aspects of layered protocol stacks

Abstract

Separating and isolating multiple network stacks in a network element may enable a network element to simultaneously operate within multiple forwarding planes respectively corresponding to the multiple network stacks. In addition to the network stack, other protocols and routing tools may also be instantiated for each desired forwarding plane. The different instantiations of the network stacks may be executed in parallel in respective memory spaces that are distinct and separate. In this manner, each forwarding plane may operate independently on the network element from other forwarding planes.

Claims

1. A method for using at least two network stacks in a network element, comprising:

receiving a first packet at the network element;

processing the first packet using a first processor or a first processor core and a first network stack installed on the network element, wherein the first network stack executes in a first memory space and instantiates modules of a management network control forwarding plane;

receiving a second packet at the network element;

processing the second packet using a second processor or a second processor core and a second network stack installed on the network element, wherein the second network stack executes in a second memory space and instantiates modules of a signal control network forwarding plane, the first memory space and the second memory space are different memory spaces and the first network stack and the second network stack are executed independently of each other;

determining that the first packet is intended for a network interface included in the network element, wherein processing the first packet includes routing the first packet to the network interface;

processing, at the network interface, the first packet using a third network stack installed on the network interface, the third network stack associated with a first local domain that includes the first network stack;

determining that the second packet is intended for the network interface, wherein processing the second packet includes routing the second packet to the network interface; and

processing, at the network interface, the second packet using a fourth network stack installed on the network interface, the fourth network stack associated with a second local domain that includes the second network stack,

wherein the third network stack executes in a third memory space and the fourth network stack executes in a fourth memory space, wherein the third memory space and the fourth memory space are different memory spaces, and wherein the first local domain and the second local domain are two different network domains.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first local domain and the second local domain are virtual local area network domains.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first local domain is a management control network, and wherein the second local domain is a signal control network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the signal control network is included in a software-defined network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first network stack and the second network stack are Internet-protocol stacks.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing the first packet using the first network stack is performed using resources of the first processor or first processor core, and the processing the second packet using the second network stack is performed using resources of the second processor or second processor core, wherein the resources of the first processor or first processor core and the resources of the second processor or second processor operate independently of each other.

7. A network element using at least two network stacks, comprising:

a port for receiving a first packet and a second packet;

a first processor or a first processor core for processing the first packet using a first network stack executing in a first memory space and instantiating modules of a management network control forwarding plane, processing the first packet includes determining that the first packet is intended for a network interface included in the network element, routing the first packet to the network interface, and processing the first packet using a third network stack installed in a third memory space, the third network stack associated with a first local domain that includes the first network stack; and

a second processor or a second processor core for processing the second packet using a second network stack executing in a second memory space and instantiating modules of a signal control network forwarding plane, processing the second packet includes determining that the second packet is intended for the network interface, routing the second packet to the network interface, and processing the second packet using a fourth network stack installed in a fourth memory space, the fourth network stack associated with a second local domain that includes the second network stack,

wherein the first memory space and the second memory space are different memory spaces and the first network stack and the second network stack are executed independently of each other, and

the third memory space and the fourth memory space are different memory spaces, and wherein the first local domain and the second local domain are two different network domains.

8. The network element of claim 7, wherein the first local domain and the second local domain are virtual local area network domains.

9. The network element of claim 7, wherein the first local domain is a management control network, and wherein the second local domain is a signal control network.

10. The network element of claim 9, wherein the signal control network is included in a software-defined network.

11. The network element of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first network stack and the second network stack are Internet-protocol stacks.

12. The network element of claim 7, wherein processing the first packet using the first network stack is performed using resources of the first processor or first processor core, processing the second packet using the second network stack is performed using resources of the second processor or second processor core, wherein the resources of the first processor or first processor core and the resources of the second processor or second processor operate independently of each other.

13. A method for using at least two network stacks in a network element, comprising:

receiving a first packet at the network element;

determining that a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag associated with the first packet corresponds to a management network control forwarding plane;

processing, according to the VLAN tag associated with the first packet, the first packet using a first processor or a first processor core and a first network stack installed on the network element, wherein the first network stack executes in a first memory space and instantiates modules of the management network control forwarding plane;

receiving a second packet at the network element;

determining that a VLAN tag associated with the second packet corresponds to a signal control network forwarding plane;

processing, according to the VLAN tag associated with the second packet, the second packet using a second processor or a second processor core and a second network stack installed on the network element, wherein the second network stack executes in a second memory space and instantiates modules of the signal control network forwarding plane, the first memory space and the second memory space are different memory spaces and the first network stack and the second network stack are executed independently of each other;

determining that the first packet is intended for a network interface included in the network element, wherein processing the first packet includes routing the first packet to the network interface;

processing, at the network interface, the first packet using a third network stack installed on the network interface, the third network stack associated with a first local domain that includes the first network stack;

determining that the second packet is intended for the network interface, wherein processing the second packet includes routing the second packet to the network interface; and

processing, at the network interface, the second packet using a fourth network stack installed on the network interface, the fourth network stack associated with a second local domain that includes the second network stack,

wherein the third network stack executes in a third memory space and the fourth network stack executes in a fourth memory space, wherein the third memory space and the fourth memory space are different memory spaces, and wherein the first local domain and the second local domain are two different network domains.