Bit indexed explicit replication for layer 2 networking
Functionality for creating a bit routing table for use in a bit-indexed explicit replication (“BIER”) environment in disclosed herein. In one embodiment, this functionality includes receiving information from a host, and determining whether the information comprises a MAC address that is a bit-indexed explicit replication (“BIER”) MAC address. In response to determining that the information comprises a BIER MAC address, this functionality creates an entry corresponding to the MAC address in a bit routing table. This functionality also analyzes the information to determine a bit position that is associated with the host, and also determines a port via which the host is reachable. The functionality updates the bit routing table by storing information identifying the bit position and the port in the entry, such that the bit position and the port both correspond to the MAC address. This functionality can be used to route packets in a BIER environment.
1. A method comprising:
receiving information from a host;
determining whether the information comprises a bit-indexed explicit replication (“BIER”) MAC address, wherein
the BIER MAC address comprises bit position information that identifies a bit position associated with the host, wherein
the bit position information can be used to update a bit routing table that stores bit position-to-port mappings;
in response to determining that the information comprises a BIER MAC address, storing routing information pertaining to the BIER MAC address in the bit routing table wherein
the routing information comprises
a bit position that is associated with the host, and
a port via which the host is reachable;
creating a bit forwarding table, wherein
the bit forwarding table is created, at least in part, by sorting the bit routing table; and
subsequent to receiving a multicast data packet that comprises a bit mask, forwarding the multicast data packet to a second host, wherein
the forwarding is performed, at least in part, by using the bit forwarding table and the bit mask.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the information received from the host is an address announcement, and
the address announcement is received in response to an address query.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein
the address announcement was sent by one of:
a Layer 3 device coupled to the Layer 2 domain,
a second host in the Layer 2 domain, or
a switch.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the information comprises a data frame; and
the method further comprises
examining a source MAC field of the data frame to determine a MAC address that is associated with the host.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the determining comprises examining an organizationally unique identifier (OUI), wherein
the OUI indicates that the BIER MAC address uniquely identifies a BIER-enabled host within a Layer 2 domain, and
the OUI further indicates that the BIER MAC address comprises information identifying a set and a bit position associated with the BIER-enabled host.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the information further comprises a set identifier,
the set identifier uniquely identifies a set of bit positions associated with a set plurality of hosts, and
the bit position uniquely identifies the host within the set plurality of hosts associated with the set of bit positions.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the BIER MAC address comprises a binary value, and
the bit position that is associated with the host is determined, at least in part, by decoding the binary value.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the port is determined based on at least one of:
detecting that the information was received via the port, or
querying an address table to determine the port associated with the BIER MAC address.
9. A networking device comprising:
a microprocessor, and
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein
the non-transient computer readable storage medium comprises program instructions executable to perform a method comprising:
receiving information from a host;
determining whether the information comprises a MAC address that is a bit-indexed explicit replication (“BIER”) MAC address, wherein
the BIER MAC address comprises bit position information that identifies a bit position associated with the host, wherein
the bit position information can be used to update a bit routing table that stores bit position-to-port mappings;
in response to determining that the information comprises a BIER MAC address, storing routing information pertaining to the BIER MAC address in the bit routing table wherein
the routing information comprises
a bit position that is associated with the host, and
a port via which the host is reachable;
creating a bit forwarding table, wherein
the bit forwarding table is created, at least in part, by sorting the bit routing table; and
subsequent to receiving a multicast data packet that comprises a bit mask, forwarding the multicast data packet to a second host, wherein
the forwarding is performed, at least in part, by using the bit forwarding table and the bit mask.
10. The networking device of claim 9 , wherein
the information received from the host is an address announcement,
the address announcement is received in response to an address query, and
the address announcement was sent by one of:
a Layer 3 device coupled to the Layer 2 domain,
a second host in the Layer 2 domain, or
a switch.
11. The networking device of claim 9 , wherein
the information comprises a data frame; and
the method further comprises
examining a source MAC field of the data frame to determine a MAC address that is associated with the host.
12. The networking device of claim 9 , wherein
the determining comprises examining an organizationally unique identifier (OUI), wherein
the OUI indicates that the BIER MAC address uniquely identifies a BIER-enabled host within a Layer 2 domain, and
the OUI further indicates that the BIER MAC address comprises information identifying a set and a bit position associated with the BIER-enabled host.
13. The networking device of claim 9 , wherein
the information further comprises a set identifier,
the set identifier uniquely identifies a set of bit positions associated with a set plurality of hosts,
the bit position uniquely identifies the host within the plurality of hosts associated with the set of bit positions,
the BIER MAC address comprises a binary value, and
the bit position that is associated with the host is determined, at least in part, by decoding the binary value.
14. The networking device of claim 9 , wherein
the port is determined based on at least one of:
detecting that the information was received via the port, or
querying an address table to determine the port associated with the BIER MAC address.
15. A system comprising:
a microprocessor, and
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein
the non-transient computer readable storage medium comprises program instructions executable to perform a method comprising:
receiving information from a host;
determining whether the information comprises a MAC address that is a bit-indexed explicit replication (“BIER”) MAC address, wherein
the BIER MAC address comprises bit position information that identifies a bit position associated with the host, wherein
the bit position information can be used to update a bit routing table that stores bit position-to-port mappings;
in response to determining that the information comprises a BIER MAC address, storing routing information pertaining to the BIER MAC address in the bit routing table wherein
the routing information comprises
a bit position that is associated with the host, and
a port via which the host is reachable;
creating a bit forwarding table, wherein
the bit forwarding table is created, at least in part, by sorting the bit routing table; and
subsequent to receiving a multicast data packet that comprises a bit mask, forwarding the multicast data packet to a second host, wherein
the forwarding is performed, at least in part, by using the bit forwarding table and the bit mask.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein
the information received from the host is an address announcement,
the address announcement is received in response to an address query, and
the address announcement was sent by one of:
a Layer 3 device coupled to the Layer 2 domain,
a second host in the Layer 2 domain, or
a switch.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein
the information comprises a data frame; and
the method further comprises
examining a source MAC field of the data frame to determine a MAC address that is associated with the host.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein
the determining comprises examining an organizationally unique identifier (OUI), wherein
the OUI indicates that the BIER MAC address uniquely identifies a BIER-enabled host within a Layer 2 domain, and
the OUI further indicates that the BIER MAC address comprises information identifying a set and a bit position associated with the BIER-enabled host.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein
the information further comprises a set identifier,
the set identifier uniquely identifies a set of bit positions associated with a plurality of hosts,
the bit position uniquely identifies the host within the plurality of hosts associated with the set of bit positions,
the BIER MAC address comprises a binary value, and
the bit position that is associated with the host is determined, at least in part, by decoding the binary value.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein
the port is determined based on at least one of:
detecting that the information was received via the port, or
querying an address table to determine the port associated with the BIER MAC address.