Arista Networks, Inc.

Bharathram Pattabhiraman

Swati Patel

Saravanan Balasubramanian

Prashant Srinivas

Sandeep Betha

Suresh Kumar Nalagatla

Ryan Michael Halbrook

Rajesh Kumar Semwal

Suresh Nalagatla

Techniques for operating a network device are provided. In some embodiments, a method may comprise: forwarding multicast data packets from a source in a first customer network to a receiver in a second customer network; detecting that another PE device is forwarding the multicast data packets, wherein: Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) is enabled on supplemental bridge domain (SBD) logical interfaces of the PE device and the another PE device, the PE device and the another PE device are PIM neighbors, and the PE device and the another PE device communicate with each other and with the receiver using the PIM protocol through an Ethernet virtual private network (EVPN). The method may further comprise determining the another PE device is an assert winner from among the PE device and the another PE device based on at least one PIM assert message, the another PE device forwarding the multicast data packets.

EVPN tenant domain transit network for multicast traffic

A method for reverse path forwarding (RPF) selection by a network device connected to a network includes receiving an advertisement message from each of a plurality of neighbor devices within the network, parsing the advertisement message to determine a color identification (ID) of each of the neighbor devices, and selecting, from among the neighbor devices, a RPF device based on the color ID of each of the neighbor devices.

Multi-tiered clos network fabric reverse path forwarding device selection

The present disclosure describes using Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) to determine whether a host is behind a PE or not behind a PE. In a use case, for example, advertising a Selective Provider Multicast Service Interface Auto-Discovery (S-PMSI-AD) route to advertise encapsulation of a multicast group is triggered by receiving multicast traffic for that group from a host device behind the provider edge (PE) device. Multicast traffic received from behind remote PEs will not trigger a S-PMSI-AD route.

Using ARP to identify locally attached source

Advertising a Selective Provider Multicast Service Interface Auto-Discovery (S-PMSI-AD) route to advertise encapsulation of a multicast group is triggered by receiving multicast traffic for that group from a host device behind the provider edge (PE) device. Multicast traffic received from behind remote PEs will not trigger a S-PMSI-AD route. Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is used to determine whether a host is behind a PE or not behind a PE.

Multicasting using selective advertisement of EVPN routes

Protocol-Independent Multicast (PIM) uses PIM hello messages to maintain neighborship information. PIM may be implemented in an Ethernet VPN (EVPN) providing Optimized Inter-Subnet Multicast (OISM). Techniques are disclosed for improving PIM neighborship efficiency and speed in an EVPN. An Inclusive Multicast Ethernet Tag (IMET) may be used to set PIM neighborship instead of using PIM hello messages and TCP may be used to determine if the neighbor is disconnected instead of tracking PIM timers.

EVPN PIM neighborship

Techniques for operating a network device are provided. In some embodiments, a method may comprise: forwarding multicast data packets from a source in a first customer network to a receiver in a second customer network; detecting that another PE device is forwarding the multicast data packets, wherein: Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) is enabled on supplemental bridge domain (SBD) logical interfaces of the PE device and the another PE device, the PE device and the another PE device are PIM neighbors, and the PE device and the another PE device communicate with each other and with the receiver using the PIM protocol through an Ethernet virtual private network (EVPN). The method may further comprise: determining the another PE device is an assert winner from among the PE device and the another PE device based on at least one PIM assert message, the another PE device forwarding the multicast data packets.

Peer devices in a peer group of provider edge devices to which a customer edge device is multi-homed, advertise Selective Multicast Ethernet Tag (SMET) routes to other peer devices on a core to receive traffic addressed to a multicast group. The peer devices in the peer group advertise the SMET routes irrespective of whether they are the designated forwarder or not. A peer device receiving traffic for the multicast group will drop the packet if it is not the designated forwarder and will forward the packet if it is the designated forwarder.

Fast convergence for multicast traffic on multilink failover

A first network device is configured with a rule preventing network traffic from travelling from the first network device to one or more other network devices. The first network device is configured to receive and distribute network traffic to the one or more other network devices. A second network device receives and distributes network traffic to the one or more other network devices. The first network device determines that the second network device has failed. In response to determining that the second network device has failed, the first network device removes the rule so that the first network device receives and distributes network traffic to the one or more other network devices.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Bharathram Pattabhiraman