FORWARDING MULTICAST DATA PACKETS USING BIT INDEX EXPLICIT REPLICATION (BIER) FOR BIER-INCAPABLE NETWORK DEVICES
A bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) network device may receive, from a first network device, information associated with a BIER proxy device that is associated with the first network device, and may transmit, to the BIER proxy device and based on receiving the information, a BIER-encapsulated multicast packet via a first tunnel between the BIER network device and the BIER proxy device. The BIER proxy device may be to transmit, via a second tunnel through the first network device, a first copy of the BIER-encapsulated multicast packet to a second network device.
1 . A bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) network device, comprising:
one or more memories; and
one or more processors to:
receive, from a first network device, information associated with a BIER proxy device that is associated with the first network device; and
transmit, to the BIER proxy device and based on receiving the information, a BIER-encapsulated multicast packet via a first tunnel between the BIER network device and the BIER proxy device,
wherein the BIER proxy device is to transmit, via a second tunnel through the first network device, a first copy of the BIER-encapsulated multicast packet to a second network device.
2 . The BIER network device of claim 1 , wherein the first tunnel is through the first network device.
3 . The BIER network device of claim 1 , wherein the BIER network device may include at least one of:
a BIER ingress device, or
a BIER forwarding device.
4 . The BIER network device of claim 1 , wherein the first tunnel is through a third network device that is different from the first network device.
5 . The BIER network device of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the BIER proxy device includes information specifying a BIER prefix of the BIER proxy device.
6 . The BIER network device of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the BIER proxy device is included in a sub-type-length-value (sub-TLV) field included in a signaling packet.
7 . The BIER network device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors, when transmitting the BIER-encapsulated multicast packet to the BIER proxy device, are to:
encapsulate the BIER-encapsulated multicast packet in an additional encapsulation layer,
wherein the additional encapsulation layer includes at least one of:
a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) header,
an Internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) header,
an Ethernet header, or
an Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) header.
8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:
one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) network device, cause the one or more processors to:
receive, from a first network device, information associated with a BIER proxy device that is associated with the first network device,
wherein the information associated with the BIER proxy device is received in a signaling packet; and
transmit, to the BIER proxy device and based on receiving the information, a BIER-encapsulated multicast packet via a first tunnel between the BIER network device and the BIER proxy device,
wherein the BIER proxy device is to transmit, via a second tunnel through the first network device, a first copy, of a plurality of copies of the BIER-encapsulated multicast packet, to a second network device.
9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the information associated with the BIER proxy device is included in a value field of a sub-type-length-value (sub-TLV) field included in the signaling packet; and
wherein a type field of the sub-TLV field indicates that the BIER network device is to transmit the BIER multicast packet to the BIER proxy device.
10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the value field, of the sub-TLV field, includes information identifying a BIER prefix of the BIER proxy device.
11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the first tunnel is through at least one of:
the first network device, or
a third network device that is different from the first network device.
12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the BIER network device is at least one of:
a BIER ingress device, or
a BIER forwarding device.
13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the first tunnel is at least one of:
a unicast multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) tunnel,
a unicast Internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) tunnel,
a unicast Ethernet tunnel, or
a unicast Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) tunnel.
14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the BIER proxy device, the first network device, the BIER network device, and the second network device are included in a BIER domain; and
wherein the BIER domain is a non-multiprotocol label switching (non-MPLS) BIER domain.
15 . A method, comprising:
receiving, at a bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) network device and from a first network device, information associated with a BIER proxy device,
wherein the information, associated with the BIER proxy device, is included in a signaling packet, and
wherein the information associated with the BIER proxy device specifies that the BIER proxy device is associated with the first network device; and
transmitting, by the BIER network device and based on receiving the information, a BIER-encapsulated multicast packet to the BIER proxy device via a first tunnel between the BIER network device and the BIER proxy device,
wherein the BIER proxy device is to transmit, via a second tunnel through the first network device, a first copy of the BIER-encapsulated multicast packet to a second network device.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first tunnel includes a first unicast tunnel through the first network device.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second tunnel includes a second unicast tunnel through the first network device,
wherein the first unicast tunnel and the second unicast tunnel are associated with a same tunneling protocol.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the second tunnel includes a second unicast tunnel through the first network device,
wherein the first unicast tunnel and the second unicast tunnel are associated with different tunneling protocols.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the BIER proxy device, the first network device, the BIER network device, and the second network device are included in a BIER domain; and
wherein the BIER domain is a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) BIER domain.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the BIER proxy device, the first network device, the BIER network device, and the second network device are included in a BIER domain; and
wherein the BIER domain is a non-multiprotocol label switching (non-MPLS) BIER domain.