Traffic engineering in frame-based carrier networks

Abstract

The invention relates to enabling traffic engineering in frame-based networks such as Ethernet networks. There is described a method of and connection controller for establishing connections ( 76, 77 ) in a frame-based communications network comprising nodes ( 71 - 75 and 78 ) such as Ethernet switches. The connections are established by configuring, in various of the nodes, mappings for forwarding data frames, such as Ethernet frames. The mappings are from a combination of a) a destination address corresponding to a destination node ( 73 ) of the connection and b) an identifier, such as a VLAN tag. The mappings are to selected output ports of the various nodes. By using the combination of destination address AND identifier, the mappings enable data frames belonging to different connections ( 76, 77 ) to be forwarded differentially (ie forwarded on different output ports) at a node ( 75 ) despite the different connections having the same destination node. This enables flexibility in routing connections—ie the ability to perform traffic engineering.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of establishing a connection in an Ethernet network, the method comprising:
 selecting an Ethernet MAC address identifying an endpoint of the connection;   selecting a VLAN for the connection, the selected VLAN having an identifier;   disabling spanning tree protocols for the selected VLAN;   disabling source address learning for the selected VLAN;   disabling unknown destination address forwarding for the selected VLAN;   configuring, in at least one intermediate node along the connection, a respective mapping for use by the intermediate node in forwarding data frames carrying the identifier of the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address as a destination address, each respective mapping associating a combination comprising the selected Ethernet MAC address and the identifier of the selected VLAN with a selected output port of the intermediate node.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the connection extends from a first node of the Ethernet network to a second node of the Ethernet network, the Ethernet MAC address identifying the endpoint of the connection associated with the second node, the method comprising determining a path through the Ethernet network from the first node to the second node via at least one intermediate node. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein configuring, in at least one intermediate node along the connection, a respective mapping for use by the node in forwarding data frames carrying the identifier of the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address as a destination address comprises configuring, in at least one node intermediate to the first node and the second node on the determined path, a respective mapping associating a combination comprising the selected Ethernet MAC address and the identifier of the selected VLAN with an output port linked to a next node of the determined path. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein determining a path comprises determining the path using a routing algorithm. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the routing algorithm takes into account at least one of:
 a topology of the Ethernet network;   operational states of nodes of the Ethernet network;   bandwidth requirements of any existing connections;   a bandwidth requirement of the first connection; and   bandwidth requirements of possible future connections.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , comprising:
 receiving packets at the first node;   associating the received packets with the identifier of the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address; and   forwarding the received packets at the first node based on the identifier of the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein:
 associating the received packets with the identifier of the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address comprises encapsulating the received packets with the identifier of the selected VLAN at the first node; and   forwarding the received packets comprises forwarding the encapsulated packets.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein associating the received packets with the selected Ethernet MAC address comprises encapsulating the received packets with the selected Ethernet MAC address at the first node. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising forwarding the encapsulated packets in at least one intermediate node along the connection based on the encapsulating VLAN identifier and the encapsulating Ethernet MAC address. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , comprising forwarding the encapsulated packets in each intermediate Ethernet node along the connection based on the encapsulating VLAN identifier and the encapsulating Ethernet MAC address. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein configuring the respective mapping in at least one intermediate node comprises configuring a respective mapping in each intermediate Ethernet node along the connection for use by the intermediate node in forwarding data frames carrying the identifier of the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address as a destination address, each respective mapping associating a combination comprising the selected Ethernet MAC address and the identifier of the selected VLAN with a selected output port of the intermediate node. 
     
     
         41 . A method of establishing a connection in an Ethernet network, the method comprising:
 selecting an Ethernet MAC address identifying an endpoint of the connection;   selecting a VLAN for the connection, the selected VLAN having an identifier;   disabling spanning tree protocols for the selected VLAN;   disabling source address learning for the selected VLAN;   disabling unknown destination address forwarding for the selected VLAN;   configuring, in at least one intermediate node along the connection, a respective mapping for use by the intermediate node in forwarding data frames carrying the identifier of the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address as a destination address, each respective mapping associating a combination comprising the selected Ethernet MAC address and the identifier of the selected VLAN with at least one selected output port of the intermediate node.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the connection is a point-to-point connection, the selected Ethernet MAC address is a unicast address and configuring a respective mapping in at least one intermediate node comprises configuring a respective mapping associating a combination comprising the selected Ethernet MAC address and the identifier of the selected VLAN with one selected output port of the intermediate node. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the connection is a point-to-multipoint connection, the selected Ethernet MAC address is a multicast address and configuring a respective mapping in at least one intermediate node comprises configuring a respective mapping associating a combination comprising the selected Ethernet MAC address and the identifier of the selected VLAN with plural selected output ports of the intermediate node. 
     
     
         44 . A method of establishing a first connection extending from a first node of an Ethernet network to a second node of the Ethernet network, the method comprising:
 selecting a first Ethernet MAC address associated with the second node of the Ethernet network;   selecting a first VLAN for the first connection, the selected first VLAN having a first VLAN identifier;   disabling spanning tree protocols for the selected first VLAN;   disabling source address learning for the selected first VLAN;   disabling unknown destination address forwarding for the selected first VLAN;   determining a first path through the Ethernet network from the first node to the second node via at least one intermediate node;   configuring, at the at least one intermediate node, a respective mapping for use by the intermediate node in forwarding data frames carrying the first VLAN identifier and the first Ethernet MAC address as a destination address, each respective mapping associating a combination comprising the first Ethernet MAC address and the first VLAN identifier with a selected output port of the intermediate node.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein determining the first path comprises determining the first path using a routing algorithm. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the routing algorithm takes into account at least one of:
 a topology of the Ethernet network;   operational states of nodes of the Ethernet network;   bandwidth requirements of any existing connections;   a bandwidth requirement of the first connection; and   bandwidth requirements of possible future connections.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , comprising establishing a second connection extending from the first node to the second node, the method comprising:
 selecting a second Ethernet MAC address associated with the second node of the Ethernet network;   selecting a second VLAN for the second connection, the selected second VLAN having a second VLAN identifier;   disabling spanning tree protocols for the selected second VLAN;   disabling source address learning for the selected second VLAN;   disabling unknown destination address forwarding for the selected second VLAN;   determining a second path through the Ethernet network from the first node to the second node via at least one intermediate node;   configuring, at the at least one intermediate node, a respective mapping associating a combination comprising the selected second Ethernet MAC address and the second VLAN identifier with an output port linked to a next node of the second path.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the second path diverges from the first path at one or more of the first node and at least one intermediate node on the first path. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein:
 the second Ethernet MAC address is the same as the first Ethernet MAC address;   the second VLAN identifier is different from the first VLAN identifier; and   the determined second path is different from the determined first path.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , comprising deactivating the first connection after establishing the second connection. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein:
 the second Ethernet address is different from the first Ethernet MAC address;   the second VLAN identifier is the same as the first VLAN identifier; and   the determined second path is different from the determined first path.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 44 , comprising establishing a second connection extending from the first node to a third node of the Ethernet network, the method comprising:
 selecting a second Ethernet MAC address associated with the third node;   selecting a second VLAN for the second connection, the selected second VLAN having a second VLAN identifier;   disabling spanning tree protocols for the selected second VLAN;   disabling source address learning for the selected second VLAN;   disabling unknown destination address forwarding for the selected second VLAN;   determining a second path through the Ethernet network from the first node to the third node via at least one intermediate node;   configuring, at the at least one intermediate node, a respective mapping associating a combination comprising the second Ethernet MAC address and the second VLAN identifier with an output port linked to a next node of the second path.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the second VLAN identifier is the same as the first VLAN identifier. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 44 , comprising establishing a second connection extending from a third node of the Ethernet network to the second node, the method comprising:
 selecting a second Ethernet MAC address associated with the second node of the Ethernet network;   selecting a second VLAN for the second connection, the selected second VLAN having a second VLAN identifier;   disabling spanning tree protocols for the selected second VLAN;   disabling source address learning for the selected second VLAN;   disabling unknown destination address forwarding for the selected second VLAN;   determining a second path through the Ethernet network from the third node to the second node via at least one intermediate node;   configuring, at the at least one intermediate node, a respective mapping associating a combination comprising the second Ethernet MAC address and the second VLAN identifier with an output port linked to a next node of the second path.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the second VLAN identifier is the same as the first VLAN identifier. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the second Ethernet MAC address is the same as the first Ethernet MAC address. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein configuring a respective mapping at the at least one intermediate node on the determined first path comprises configuring a respective mapping associating a combination comprising the first Ethernet MAC address and the first VLAN identifier with at least one selected output port of the intermediate node. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the first connection is a point-to-point connection, the first Ethernet MAC address is a unicast address and configuring a respective mapping at the at least one intermediate node comprises configuring a respective mapping associating a combination comprising the first Ethernet MAC address and the first VLAN identifier with one selected output port of the intermediate node. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the first connection is a point-to-multipoint connection, the first Ethernet MAC address is a multicast address and configuring a respective mapping at the at least one intermediate node comprises configuring a respective mapping associating a combination comprising the first Ethernet MAC address and the first VLAN identifier with plural selected output ports of the intermediate node. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein configuring the respective mapping in at least one intermediate node comprises configuring a respective mapping in each intermediate Ethernet node along the first path for use by the intermediate node in forwarding data frames carrying the first VLAN identifier and the first Ethernet MAC address as a destination address, each respective mapping associating a combination comprising the first Ethernet MAC address and the first VLAN identifier with a selected output port of the intermediate node. 
     
     
         61 . A method of establishing a connection in an Ethernet network, the method comprising, without Ethernet unknown destination address forwarding and source address learning:
 determining a path for the connection from a first node through at least one intermediate node to a second node of the Ethernet network;   selecting a VLAN for association with the connection, the selected VLAN having a VLAN identifier;   selecting an Ethernet MAC address for association with the connection; and   forwarding packets associated with the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address at the at least one intermediate node based on the combination of the VLAN identifier and the Ethernet MAC address without changing the VLAN identifier.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein forwarding packets associated with the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address at the at least one intermediate node comprises forwarding packets associated with the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address at each intermediate Ethernet node along the path. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the packets associated with the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address carry the VLAN identifier of the selected VLAN and carry the selected Ethernet MAC address as a destination address. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , comprising configuring at the at least one intermediate node a respective mapping for use by the intermediate node in forwarding data frames carrying the VLAN identifier associated with the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address as a destination address, each respective mapping associating a combination comprising the selected Ethernet MAC address and the VLAN identifier of the selected VLAN with a selected output port of the intermediate node. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the connection is a point-to-point connection and the respective mapping associates the combination comprising the selected Ethernet MAC address and the VLAN identifier of the selected VLAN with one selected output port of the intermediate node. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the connection is a point-to-multipoint connection and the respective mapping associates the combination comprising the selected Ethernet MAC address and the VLAN identifier of the selected VLAN with plural selected output ports of the intermediate node. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the selected Ethernet MAC address is a multicast address. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein configuring a respective mapping at the at least one intermediate node comprises configuring a respective mapping at each intermediate Ethernet node along the path. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 60 , comprising disabling unknown destination address forwarding and source address learning at the first and second nodes. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 60 , comprising disabling unknown destination address forwarding and source address learning at the at least one intermediate node. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 69 , comprising disabling unknown destination address forwarding and source address learning at each intermediate Ethernet node along the path. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein determining a path comprises determining the path using a routing algorithm. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the routing algorithm takes into account at least one of:
 a topology of the Ethernet network;   operational states of nodes of the Ethernet network;   bandwidth requirements of any existing connections;   a bandwidth requirement of the first connection; and   bandwidth requirements of possible future connections.   
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 60 , comprising:
 receiving packets at the first node;   associating the received packets with the VLAN identifier of the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address; and   forwarding the received packets at the first node based on the VLAN identifier of the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address.   
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein:
 associating the received packets with the VLAN identifier of the selected VLAN and the selected Ethernet MAC address comprises encapsulating the received packets with the VLAN identifier of the selected VLAN at the first node; and   forwarding the received packets comprises forwarding the encapsulated packets.   
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein associating the received packets with the selected Ethernet MAC address comprises encapsulating the received packets with the selected Ethernet MAC address at the first node. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 75 , comprising forwarding the encapsulated packets at the at least one intermediate node along the connection based on the encapsulating VLAN identifier and the encapsulating Ethernet MAC address. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 75 , comprising forwarding the encapsulated packets at each intermediate Ethernet node along the connection based on the encapsulating VLAN identifier and the encapsulating Ethernet MAC address.