Cisco Technology, Inc.

Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Abdelsalam

Clarence Filsfils

Pablo Camarillo Garvia

Francois Clad

Rakesh Gandhi

Sonia Ben Ayed

Kiran Sasidharan Pillai

Jisu Bhattacharya

Karen Cadora

Techniques for monitoring data transport in a network virtualization function (NVF) chain. A path tracing packet is generated having a Midpoint Compressed Data (MCD) to collect path tracing information of the NVF chain. The NVF node is configured to record an MCD containing Wide Local Path Tracing Identification (WL PT ID). The WL PT ID includes a first field having a value that indicates that a non-standard path tracing format is to be used and has a second field that indicates a particular path tracing format to be used. The path tracing packet is passed through the NVF chain and is then received back again after passing through the NVF chain. Data collected by the path tracing packet is analyzed to determine which NVF nodes the path tracing packet passed through, and the amount of time taken for the path tracing packet to pass through, the NVF chain.

Virtual network function proof of transit

Disclosed are systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media to measure performance of distinct paths of a network. A method includes determining a collection of hashes of a network based on a network probe event, each hash in the collection of hashes corresponding to a distinct path from a first edge device to a second edge device through the network; transmitting a collection of probes from the first edge device in the network, wherein each probe in the collection of probes is assigned a hash selected from the collection of hashes; receiving probes from the collection of probes at the second edge device; and determining a network performance of each distinct path through the network.

Path assurance in shared transport

A network node receives a data packet. In response to receiving the data packet, the network node performs a lookup on a label stack of the data packet to determine a next hop for the data packet. The network node scans the label stack to identify a Structured Entropy Label (SEL). The SEL includes a Path Tracing Indicator (PTI). The network node computes Midpoint Compressed Data (MCD) as a result of the PTI being set to a pre-defined value. The network node records the MCD in a MCD stack of the data packet by shifting the MCD stack and stamping the MCD on top of the MCD stack. The network node transmits the data packet to the next hop with the recorded MCD stack. The network sink node encapsulates the received data packet to generate an encapsulated data packet and transmits the data packet.

Mechanisms for packet path tracing and per-hop delay measurement in segment routing with multiprotocol label switching (SR-MPLS) networks

Disclosed are systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media to encode network functions in a packet header. A method includes receiving a first packet from a source device that is to be delivered to a destination address through a network; determining a route to the destination address; identifying at least one network function for the first packet; encapsulating the first packet in a second packet, wherein a header of the second packet includes the route to the destination address in a destination address field and local processing metadata associated with the at least one network function in a source address field; and forwarding the second packet to a next network node of the network identified in the destination address.

Methods and apparatus for encoding local processing metadata in network headers

This disclosure describes techniques for detecting and monitoring paths in a network. The techniques include causing a source node to generate probe packets to traverse a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network, for instance. In some examples, the probe packets include entropy values that correspond to individual equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) paths of the network. The probe packets may be received at an SDN controller from a sink node after traversing the network. Analysis of the probe packets allow path discovery and mapping of the entropy values to ECMP paths. The mapping of discovered paths may be used for optimization of network monitoring activities, including second subsequent probe packets over particular ECMP paths based on the mapped entropy values.

Network path detection and monitoring

Techniques for optimizing technologies related to network path tracing and network delay measurements are described herein. Some of the techniques may include using an IPv6 header option and/or segment identifier field of a segment list or a TLV of a segment routing header as a telemetry data carrier. The techniques may also include using an SRv6 micro-segment (uSID) instruction to indicate to a node of a network that the node is to perform one or more path tracing actions and encapsulating the packet and forward. Additionally, the techniques may include using short interface identifiers corresponding to node interfaces to trace a packet path through a network. Further, the techniques may include using short timestamps to determine delay measurements associated with sending a packet through a network. In various examples, the techniques described above and herein may be used with each other to optimize network path tracing and delay measurement techniques.

Micro segment identifier instructions for path tracing optimization

Telemetry data optimization for path tracing and delay measurement

Techniques for monitoring data transport in a network virtualization function chain (chain). A path tracing packet is generated having a Midpoint Compressed Data (MCD) to collect path tracing information of the chain. The network virtualization function node is configured to record an MCD containing Wide Local Path Tracing Identification (WL PT ID). The WL PT ID includes a first field having a value that indicates that a non-standard path tracing format is to be used and a second field that indicates a particular path tracing format to be used. The path tracing packet is passed through the chain and is received back after passing through the chain. Data collected by the path tracing packet is then analyzed to determine which network virtualization function nodes and chains the path tracing packet passed through and the amount of time taken for the path tracing packet to pass through the chain.

The present technology pertains to a group-based network policy using Segment Routing over an IPv6 dataplane (SRv6). After a source application sends a packet, an ingress node can receive the packet, and if the source node is capable, it can identify an application policy and apply it. The ingress node indicates that the policy has been applied by including policy bits in the packet encapsulation. When the packet is received by the egress node, it can determine whether the policy was already applied, and if so, the packet is forward to the destination application. If the egress node determines that the policy has not be applied the destination application can apply the policy. Both the ingress node and egress nodes can learn of source application groups, destination application groups, and applicable policies through communication with aspects of the segment routing fabric.

Inband group-based network policy using SRV6

In one embodiment, a method, by a network apparatus of a first domain network, includes receiving one or more packets from an access network, determining a classification for the packets based on the accounting information, selecting, based on the determined classification, a policy configuration from a plurality of policy configurations for processing the packets, encapsulating the packets with one or more segment identifiers in accordance with the selected policy configuration, and sending the encapsulated packets to a network slice or a second network slice in a second domain network based on the one or more segment identifiers.

Growing community of inventors

L'Aquila, Italy

Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Abdelsalam