Generalized multi-homing for virtual private LAN services
View Patent ↗A generalized multi-homing capability is depicted and described herein. The generalized multi-homing capability supports use of a generalized multi-homed site object and associated generalized multi-homed site identifier for Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS). For example, a generalized multi-homed site object may be generated using a multi-homed site object by associating an Ethernet endpoint object and a pseudowire endpoint object with the multi-homed site object. For example, a generalized multi-homed site object may be generated using a multi-homed site object by associating an Ethernet endpoint object with the multi-homed site object and associating one or more Ethernet-related objects with the Ethernet endpoint object. The generalized multi-homed site object is configured to support multiple types of endpoints, thereby enabling multi-homing to be supported for various types of devices in various types of networks (e.g., between devices of customer and service provider networks, between devices within a service provider network, between devices of different service provider networks, and the like) and for various types of services.
1. An apparatus for generating a generalized multi-homed site object, comprising:
a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the processor, the processor configured to:
identify a multi-homed site object for a Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) Service (VPLS), wherein a multi-homed device within the VPLS is represented by the multi-homed site object;
associate an Ethernet endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS, wherein an Ethernet endpoint is represented by the Ethernet endpoint object; and
associate a pseudowire endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS, wherein an pseudowire endpoint is represented by the pseudowire endpoint object;
wherein the multi-homed site object is configured to provide multi-homing support for the Ethernet endpoint object and the pseudowire endpoint object.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
associate a Virtual LAN (VLAN) Identifier object with the Ethernet endpoint object.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
associate a G.8031 tunnel object with the Ethernet endpoint object.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
associate a G.8032 ring object with the Ethernet endpoint object.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
associate a Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) signaled object with the pseudowire endpoint object.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
associate a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) signaled object with the pseudowire endpoint object.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the processor is configured to initiate storage of the generalized multi-homed site object in a memory.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a memory configure to store the generalized multi-homed site object.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
execute a designated forwarder election algorithm for determining whether or not the generalized multi-homed site object is elected as the designated forwarder for the VPLS.
10. A method for generating a generalized multi-homed site object, comprising:
using a processor for:
identifying a multi-homed site object for a Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) Service (VPLS), wherein a multi-homed device within the VPLS is represented by the multi-homed site object;
associating an Ethernet endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS, wherein an Ethernet endpoint is represented by the Ethernet endpoint object; and
associating a pseudowire endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS, wherein an pseudowire endpoint is represented by the pseudowire endpoint object;
wherein the multi-homed site object is configured to provide multi-homing support for the Ethernet endpoint object and the pseudowire endpoint object.
11. An apparatus for generating a generalized multi-homed site object, comprising:
a processor and a memory communicatively connected to the processor, the processor configured to:
identify a multi-homed site object for a Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) Service (VPLS), wherein a multi-homed device within the VPLS is represented by the multi-homed site object;
associate an Ethernet endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS, wherein an Ethernet endpoint is represented by the Ethernet endpoint object; and
perform at least one of:
associate a Virtual LAN (VLAN) Identifier object with the Ethernet endpoint object;
associate a G.8031 tunnel object with the Ethernet endpoint object; and
associate a G.8032 ring object with the Ethernet endpoint object;
wherein the multi-homed site object is configured to provide multi-homing support for the Ethernet endpoint object.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to perform at least two of:
associate a Virtual LAN (VLAN) Identifier object with the Ethernet endpoint object;
associate a G.8031 tunnel object with the Ethernet endpoint object; and
associate a G.8032 ring object with the Ethernet endpoint object.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to perform each of:
associate a Virtual LAN (VLAN) Identifier object with the Ethernet endpoint object;
associate a G.8031 tunnel object with the Ethernet endpoint object; and
associate a G.8032 ring object with the Ethernet endpoint object.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to:
associate a pseudowire endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to:
associate a Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) signaled object with the pseudowire endpoint object.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to:
associate a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) signaled object with the pseudowire endpoint object.
17. The apparatus of claim 11 , where the processor is configured to initiate storage of the generalized multi-homed site object in a memory.
18. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a memory configured to store the generalized multi-homed site object.
19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to:
execute a designated forwarder election algorithm for determining whether or not the generalized multi-homed site object is elected as the designated forwarder for the VPLS.
20. A method for generating a generalized multi-homed site object, comprising:
using a processor for:
identifying a multi-homed site object for a Virtual Private Local Area Network (LAN) Service (VPLS), wherein a multi-homed device within the VPLS is represented by the multi-homed site object;
associating an Ethernet endpoint object with the multi-homed site object for the VPLS, wherein an Ethernet endpoint is represented by the Ethernet endpoint object; and
performing at least one of:
associating a Virtual LAN (VLAN) Identifier object with the Ethernet endpoint object;
associating a G.8031 tunnel object with the Ethernet endpoint object; and
associating a G.8032 ring object with the Ethernet endpoint object;
wherein the multi-homed site object is configured to provide multi-homing support for the Ethernet endpoint object.