Method for managing E-tree services in MPLS networks

1. A method for managing E-tree services in an MPLS network with topology comprising one or more domains of network nodes and links, the network is adapted to accommodate an E-tree structure formed by the network nodes for a specific E-tree service, wherein the E-tree structure comprises at least one root point communicating with a number of leaf points, so that any network node of the E-tree structure is connected via its ports to one or more links leading directly or indirectly to a root point and/or a leaf point of said structure, the method comprises:

selecting indications of at least the following types: one or more regular Split Horizon Group (SHG) indications, and one special SHG indication, one additional special non-SHG indication;

based on the topology of the network and the specific E-tree service, marking ports of the network nodes of the E-tree structure by using all of said indications as follows: a) marking ports of a specific node, associated with links leading directly or indirectly only to leaf points of the structure, with said special SHG indication;

b) marking ports of a specific node, associated with links leading directly or indirectly to the root point, with one of the regular SHG indications;

c) marking ports of a specific node, connected to links incoming from or outgoing to one and the same domain, with one and the same regular SHG indication and associating said regular SHG indication with said domain, wherein, in case the same said specific node is a border node between different bordering domains, the regular SHG indication associated with one of the different bordering domains is not equal to the regular SHG indication associated with another of the different bordering domains;

d) marking ports of a specific node directly connected to two or more root points with the additional special non-SHG indication;

using the marked ports to manage traffic of the specific E-tree service in the network according to following rules: prohibiting to forward traffic, via a specific node, between ports marked with equal SHG indications, allowing to forward traffic, via a specific node, between ports marked with different SHG indications, and allowing forward traffic, via a specific node, between the ports marked with equal additional special non-SHG indications.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: deployment of the E-tree service onto the suitable E-tree structure in the MPLS network after performing the marking step, and managing traffic of the E-tree service in the network according to the rules.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said links being either physical connections or pseudo wires PWs of said E-tree service in the MPLS network.

4. The method according to claim 1 , being performed separately for each E-tree service in the MPLS network.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the marking is performed by a Network Management Entity NME, and wherein the information about the marking is downloaded by the NME to the network nodes.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the MPLS network is a multi-domain H-VPLS network.

7. A software product comprising data and/or computer implementable instructions for carrying out the method according to claim 1 , stored on an appropriate computer readable non-transitory storage medium so that the software is capable of enabling operations of said method when used in a computer system.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein allowing forward traffic between the ports marked with the additional special indication includes enabling two root points to communicate with each other.

9. A computer system comprising a Network Management Entity (NME) suitable for managing E-tree services in an MPLS network comprising nodes,

the NME comprising respective functional blocks configured to: store topology data of the network in the NME, wherein the topology comprising information about at least one E-tree structure for E-tree service;

perform processing of the topology data, based on the processed topology data, select indications of at least the following types: one or more regular Split Horizon Group (SHG) indications, one special SHG indication, and one additional special non-SHG indication;

based on the topology of the network and the specific E-tree service, mark ports of the network nodes of the E-tree structure by using all of said indications as follows:

a) marking ports of a specific node, associated with links leading directly or indirectly only to leaf points of the structure, with said special SHG indication;

b) marking ports of a specific node, associated with links leading directly or indirectly to the root point, with one of the regular SHG indications;

c) marking ports of a specific node, connected to links incoming from or outgoing to one and the same domain, with one and the same regular SHG indication and associating said regular SHG indication with said domain, wherein, in case the same said specific node is a border node between different bordering domains, the regular SHG indication associated with one of the different bordering domains is not equal to the regular SHG indication associated with another of the different bordering domains;

d) marking ports of a specific node directly connected to root points with additional special non-SHG indication;

download the performed marking to the nodes, thereby commanding to the nodes to mark their ports with the selected indications and enabling the nodes to pass traffic of the specific E-tree service there-through according to following rules: prohibit forwarding the traffic, via a specific node, between ports marked with equal SHG indications, forward the traffic, via a specific node, between ports marked with different SHG indications, and forward the traffic, via a specific node, between the ports marked with equal additional special non-SHG indication.