Metro ethernet network with scaled broadcast and service instance domains

• US 9,967,371 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sajassi, Ali, Finn, Norman W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crutchfield, Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TITO Q
• Application Number:
  US14/153,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20140198795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,576 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2852 Metropolitan area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4645 Details on frame tagging routing of packets H04L45/00; support for virtual LAN H04L49/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/465 wherein a single frame includes a plurality of VLAN tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4662 wherein a VLAN tag represents a service instance, e.g. I-SID in PBB
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4691 GVRP [GARP VLAN registration protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers

Abstract

A method of operation for a provider edge device of a core network includes receiving a customer frame from an access network; the customer frame having a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first predetermined bit length. The first VLAN tag including a service instance identifier. The service instance identifier of the first VLAN tag is then mapped into a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A method of operation for a network-facing provider edge device (n-PE) of a core network, the method comprising:

receiving a customer frame from an access network of a service provider (SP) associated with a core network, the customer frame including a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first predetermined bit length, the first VLAN tag including a broadcast domain identifier and a service instance identifier designating a broadcast domain and a service instance domain, respectively, for connections across the access network;

adding, to the customer frame, a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length, wherein;

the second VLAN tag is nested relative to the first VLAN tag;

the second VLAN tag includes a mapping of the service instance identifier of the first VLAN tag and a first field having a bit length of 4-bits, the first field comprising one or more of;

a class of service field;

a discard eligible bit;

a frame check sequence bit;

a customer MAC address encapsulation bit;

or

a stack bit; and

adding, to the customer frame, a n-PE Media Access Control (MAC) header, wherein adding the n-PE MAC header encapsulates a customer MAC header.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer frame further includes the customer MAC header.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second VLAN tag specifies a broadcast domain and a service instance domain of the core network.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

stacking a third VLAN tag on the second VLAN tag, the third VLAN tag being different from the second VLAN tag.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the core network comprises an Ethernet core network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the core network comprises a Multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) / Internet Protocol (IP) network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined bit length is 12-bits and the second predetermined bit length is 20-bits.

8. A network-facing provider edge (n-PE) device comprising:

a port configured to receive a customer frame from an access network associated with a service provider (SP), the customer frame having a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first predetermined bit length, the first VLAN tag including a service instance identifier; and

a processor configured to;

add, to the customer frame, a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length, wherein;

the second VLAN tag is nested relative to the first VLAN tag; and

the second VLAN tag includes a mapping of the service instance identifier of the first VLAN tag and a first field having a bit length of 4-bits, the first field comprising one or more of;

a class of service field;

a discard eligible bit;

a frame check sequence bit;

a customer MAC address encapsulation bit;

or

a stack bit; and

add, to the customer frame, a n-PE Media Access Control (MAC) header, wherein adding the n-PE MAC header encapsulates a customer MAC header.

9. The n-PE device of claim 8 wherein:

the customer frame further includes the customer MAC header and a customer Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag;

the first VLAN tag further includes a broadcast domain identifier;

wherein;

the second VLAN tag further includes the broadcast domain identifier of the first VLAN tag; and

the broadcast domain identifier designates a broadcast domain and the service instance identifier designates a service instance domain through a service provider (SP) core network.

10. The n-PE device of claim 8 wherein a processor is further configured to stack a third VLAN tag on the second VLAN tag, the third VLAN tag being different from the second VLAN tag.

11. The n-PE device of claim 8 wherein the first predetermined bit length is 12-bits and the second predetermined bit length is 20-bits.

12. A user-facing provider edge (u-PE) device comprising:

a port configured to receive a customer frame from a customer edge (CE) device, the customer frame including a customer VLAN and a customer Media Access Control (MAC) header; and

a processor configured to;

add a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag having a bit length of 20-bits or more to the customer frame, wherein;

the VLAN tag including a broadcast domain identifier and a service instance identifier designating a broadcast domain and a service instance domain, respectively, for connections across the Ethernet access network and through a core network of a service provider (SP); and

the VLAN tag includes a first field having a bit length of 4-bits, the first field comprising one or more of;

a class of service field;

a discard eligible bit;

a frame check sequence bit;

a customer MAC address encapsulation bit;

or

a stack bit; and

add a SP Media Access Control (MAC) header to the customer frame, wherein adding the SP MAC header encapsulates a customer MAC header.