IP Library Granted Patent US 11,770,332
Granted Patent B2
US 11,770,332 · App. 17/168,943 · Granted Sep 26, 2023

MAC-based redistribution policy for multi-area networks

Inventors: Constantin Barcaru (Bucharest, RO); Gautam Khera (Sugarland, TX); Lava K. Lavu (Bedford, MA); Gheorghe Croitoru (Bucharest, RO)
Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
H04L45/566H04L12/18H04L12/4633H04L41/12H04L45/34H04L45/44H04L45/66H04L2101/622
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,770,332
App. No.
17/168,943
Granted
Sep 26, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided herein are systems and methods for providing a MAC-based redistribution policy between networks in a multi-area network. A network can have a boundary node that communicates to neighboring networks. Boundary nodes can receive policy updates that identify which services are redistributable across network boundaries. Boundary nodes can receive a packet for a service, translate the packet's encapsulation, and forward the packet across the boundary towards a destination node. Boundary nodes can forward the packet such that it originates in the second network from a virtual node.

Claims (56)

1. A method for redistributing services at a boundary between a first network and a second network of a multi-area network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a boundary node or at a virtual node on the boundary and from a first node in the first network, a packet for a service, wherein the packet is encapsulated in a first encapsulation, wherein the first encapsulation comprises a first source address of the first node and a destination address based on the first node and a service instance identifier (I-SID) of the service, and wherein the virtual node is in the second network and represents the first network to the second network;

translating, at the boundary node or the virtual node, the packet from the first encapsulation to a second encapsulation, wherein the translating comprises:

changing the first source address to a second source address of the boundary node or the virtual node; and

updating the destination address based on the second source address and the I-SID for the service; and

forwarding, from the boundary node, the packet to a second node in the second network.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising pointing, by the boundary node, a first media access control (MAC) address for the service to the first node in the first network.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising synchronizing, by the boundary node, a second MAC address for the service in the first network with the first MAC address.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at the boundary node, a policy update from a control plane configured to enable the service to be redistributable between the first network and the second network.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first encapsulation further comprises:

a boundary value identifier for the boundary node; and

the I-SID.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second encapsulation comprises:

the second source address of the virtual node;

the updated destination address;

a boundary value identifier for a second node on the boundary; and

the I-SID.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein forwarding the packet from the boundary node to the second node further comprises forwarding the packet from the boundary node with the virtual node as a root.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second node is a second boundary node in the second network on another boundary between the second network and a third network in the multi-area network.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising forwarding, from the second node, the packet to the updated destination address, wherein the updated destination address is associated with a third node in the third network.

10. A boundary node on a boundary between a first network and a second network in a multi-area network, the boundary node comprising:

a memory; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and configured to:

receive, from a first node in the first network, a packet for a service, wherein the packet is encapsulated in a first encapsulation, and wherein the first encapsulation comprises a first source address of the first node and a destination address based on the first node and a service instance identifier (I-SID) of the service;

translate the packet from the first encapsulation to a second encapsulation, wherein to translate the packet the processor is further configured to:

change the first source address to a second source address of the boundary node; and

update the destination address based on the second source address and the I-SID for the service; and

forward the packet to a destination node in the second network.

11. The boundary node of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to point a first media access control (MAC) address for the service to the first node in the first network.

12. The boundary node of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize a second MAC address for the service in the first network with the first MAC address.

13. The boundary node of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a policy update from a control plane configured to enable the service to be redistributable between the first network and the second network.

14. The boundary node of claim 10 , wherein the first encapsulation further comprises:

a boundary value identifier for the boundary node.

15. The boundary node of claim 10 , wherein the second encapsulation comprises:

the second source address of a virtual node, wherein the virtual node is in the second network and represents the first network to the second network;

the I-SID of the service;

the updated destination address; and

a boundary value identifier for a node on the boundary.

16. The boundary node of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to forward the packet from the boundary node to the second network with the virtual node as a root.

17. The boundary node of claim 15 , wherein the destination node is a second boundary node in the second network on another boundary between the second network and a third network in the multi-area network.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable code thereon, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions configured to cause a computer system to perform operations, comprising:

receiving, at a boundary node or a virtual node and from a first node of a first network, a packet for a service, wherein the boundary node is on a boundary between the first network and a second network of a multi-area network, wherein the packet is encapsulated in a first encapsulation, wherein the first encapsulation comprises a first source address of the first node and a destination address based on the first node and a service instance identifier (I-SID) of the service, and wherein the virtual node is in the second network and represents the first network to the second network;

translating, at the boundary node or the virtual node, the packet from the first encapsulation to a second encapsulation at the boundary node, wherein the translating comprises:

changing the first source address to a second source address of the boundary node or the virtual node; and

updating the destination address based on the second source address and the I-SID for the service; and

forwarding the packet from the boundary node to a second node in the second network.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , the operations further comprising:

pointing, by the boundary node, a first media access control (MAC) address for the service to the first node in the first network; and

synchronizing, by the boundary node, a second MAC address for the service in the first network with the first MAC address.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , the operations further comprising:

forwarding the packet from the boundary node to the second node with the virtual node as a root, wherein the second encapsulation comprises:

the second source address of the virtual node,

the I-SID of the service,

the updated destination address, and

a boundary value identifier for a third node on the boundary.

Assignments (2)
AMENDED SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 18, 2023
From: EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.; AEROHIVE NETWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 064782/0971 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2021
From: BARCARU, CONSTANTIN; KHERA, GAUTAM; LAVU, LAVA K.; CROITORU, GHEORGHE; FITZGERALD, DEBORAH E.; LEBLANC, PAMELA M.; MILITARU, IRINA MARIA; NEAGU, BIANCA ELENA
To: EXTREME NETWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055231/0086 →
Continuity (1)
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