Method and Apparatus for Interworking VPLS and Ethernet Networks

Abstract

To allow seamless interworking between an 802.1ah service instance (ISID) and a VPLS service instance, the AGI value used to signal the setup of the pseudowire portion of the VPLS may carry the ISID value of an associated 802.1ah service instance. This allows the service instance to be identified end-to-end across the Ethernet and VPLS networks using the same value without modifying how the MPLS network operates. The VPLS network will use AGI/AII signaling to set up pseudowires on the MPLS network, but instead of using an AGI value assigned by the MPLS network, the AGI value that is assigned will be taken from the ISID value of the Ethernet frame or from ISIDs registered by the Ethernet network.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of interworking a MPLS-based Ethernet VPN with an Ethernet network, the method comprising:
 obtaining an Ethernet service identifier associated with a service instance in the Ethernet network; and   for a service instance in the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN corresponding to the service instance in the Ethernet network associated with the Ethernet service identifier, deriving from the Ethernet service identifier an identifier for use in the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN, the identifier for use in the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN being uniquely associated with the Ethernet service identifier.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the Ethernet service identifier is an I-SID. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the identifier for the service instance in the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN comprises the I-SID value. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the identifier for the service instance in the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN is the same as the I-SID. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the identifier derived for use In the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN is an attachment group identifier (AGI). 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the AGI identifies a logical group of forwarders at an egress node of the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising registering the Ethernet service identifier at a point of attachment of the Ethernet network to the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the Ethernet network is a provider backbone (PBB) network. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the Ethernet network is implemented to use a link state protocol as a control plane. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN provides a virtual private LAN service (VPLS). 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising signalling setup of at least one pseudowire for the service instance in the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein signalling setup of at least one pseudowire comprises transmitting an attachment group identifier message communicating an attachment group identifier type value indicating that an attachment group identifier carried in the attachment group identifier corresponds to an I-SID value. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein signalling setup of at least one pseudowire identifies an attachment individual identifier (AII) that is to be used to forward packets received over the pseudowire. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the pseudowire is established on a label switched path through the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the Ethernet service identifier is one of a B-Tag and a B-VID. 
     
     
         37 . Apparatus for interworking a MPLS-based Ethernet VPN with an Ethernet network, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions comprising instructions executable:   to obtain an Ethernet service identifier associated with a service instance in the Ethernet network; and   for a service instance in the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN corresponding to the service instance in the Ethernet network associated with the Ethernet service identifier, to derive from the Ethernet service identifier an identifier for use in the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN, the identifier for use in the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN being uniquely associated with the Ethernet service identifier.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the Ethernet service identifier is an I-SID. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the identifier for the service instance in the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN comprises the I-SID value. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the identifier for the service instance in the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN is the same as the I-SID. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the identifier derived for use In the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN is an attachment group identifier (AGI). 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the AGI identifies a logical group of forwarders at an egress node of the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , further comprising registering the Ethernet service identifier at a point of attachment of the Ethernet network to the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the Ethernet network is a provider backbone (PBB) network. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the Ethernet network is implemented to use a link state protocol as a control plane. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN provides a virtual private LAN service (VPLS). 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , further comprising signalling setup of at least one pseudowire for the service instance in the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein signalling setup of at least one pseudowire comprises transmitting an attachment group identifier message communicating an attachment group identifier type value indicating that an attachment group identifier carried in the attachment group identifier corresponds to an I-SID value. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein signalling setup of at least one pseudowire identifies an attachment individual identifier (AII) that is to be used to forward packets received over the pseudowire. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the pseudowire is established on a label switched path through the MPLS-based Ethernet VPN. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the Ethernet service identifier is one of a B-Tag and a B-VID.