SEPARATION AND ISOLATION OF MULTIPLE NETWORK STACKS IN A NETWORK ELEMENT

• US 20150271304A1
• Filed: 03/21/2014
• Published: 09/24/2015
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,942,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 network stack installed on the network element, wherein the first network stack executes in a first memory space;

receiving a second packet at the network element; and

processing the second packet using a second network stack installed on the network element, wherein the second network stack executes in a second memory space, and

wherein the first memory space and the second memory space are different memory spaces.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first memory space and the second memory space are accessed by a processor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first memory space is accessed by a first processor and the second memory space is accessed by a second processor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the first packet is a management control packet; and

determining that the second packet is a signal control packet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network stack and the second network stack are executed independently of each other.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first local domain and the second local domain are virtual local area network domains.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first local domain is a management control network, and wherein the second local domain is a signal control network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal control network is included in a software-defined network.

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

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

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

a first processor configured to access non-transitory computer readable first memory media, wherein the first memory media store processor-executable instructions, the instructions, when executed by the first processor, cause the first processor to;

receive a first packet;

process the first packet using a first network stack executing in a first memory space;

receive a second packet; and

process the second packet using a second network stack executing in a second memory space,

wherein the first memory space and the second memory space are different memory spaces.

13. The network element of claim 12, wherein the first memory space and the second memory space are accessed by the first processor.

14. The network element of claim 12, wherein the first processor includes a first processing unit and a second processing unit, and wherein first memory space is accessed by the first processing unit and the second memory space is accessed by the second processing unit.

15. The network element of claim 12, further comprising instructions to:

determine that the first packet is a management control packet; and

determine that the second packet is a signal control packet.

16. The network element of claim 12, wherein the first network stack and the second network stack are executed independently of each other.

17. The network element of claim 12, further comprising instructions to:

determine that the first packet is intended for a network interface included in the network element, wherein the instructions to process the first packet include instructions to route the first packet to the network interface; and

determine that the second packet is intended for the network interface, wherein the instructions to process the second packet include instructions to route the second packet to the network interface,

wherein the network interface includes a second processor configured to access non-transitory computer readable second memory media, wherein the second memory media store processor-executable instructions, the instructions, when executed by the second processor, cause the second processor to;

process 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

process 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 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.

18. The network element of claim 17, wherein the first local domain and the second local domain are virtual local area network domains.

19. The network element of claim 17, wherein the first local domain is a management control network, and wherein the second local domain is a signal control network.

20. The network element of claim 19, wherein the signal control network is included in a software-defined network.

21. The network element of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first network stack and the second network stack are Internet-protocol stacks.

22. The network element of claim 12, wherein the instructions to process the first packet using the first network stack are performed using first processor resources, and the instructions to process the second packet using the second network stack are performed using second processor resources, wherein the first processor resources and the second processor resources operate independently of each other.