Cisco Technology, Inc.

Christian J Martin

Ijsbrand Wijnands

Gregory J Shepherd

Rajiv Asati

Nagendra Kumar Nainar

John H W Bettink

Neale D R Ranns

Jesper Skriver

Daniel Robert Garrison

Brian Richard Sarbin

Greg Shepherd

Ljsbrand Wijnands

Various systems and methods for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) using multiprotocol label switching (MPLS). For example, one method involves receiving a packet that includes a MPLS label. The packet also includes a multicast forwarding entry. The method also involves determining, based on the value of the MPLS label, whether to use the multicast forwarding entry to forward the packet. The method further includes forwarding the packet.

Bit indexed explicit replication using multiprotocol label switching

Various systems and methods for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER). For example, one method involves receiving a packet at a node. The packet includes a bit string. The node selects forwarding information based on a flow value associated with the packet. The forwarding information includes a forwarding bit mask. The node then forwards the packet based on the bit string and the forwarding information.

Equal cost multi-path with bit indexed explicit replication

Various systems and methods for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER). For example, one method involves receiving a membership message that was generated by an egress router, where the membership message comprises information identifying a multicast group, and information identifying a plurality of egress routers. The method identifies at least one bit position in the membership message that is associated with the first egress router, where at least one bit position of the plurality of bit positions is associated with the first egress router. The method also records membership of the first egress router in the multicast group, where the membership is recorded in a bit of a group membership table, and the bit corresponds to the bit position identified in the membership message.

Overlay signaling for bit indexed explicit replication

Methods, devices and computer readable storage media for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) are disclosed. One embodiment of a method includes obtaining, at an egress node of a network, a bit position assigned to the egress node. This embodiment also includes sending an outgoing advertisement to other nodes in the network, where the outgoing advertisement identifies the egress node and the assigned bit position. The bit position is within a bit mask comprising bits in a plurality of bit positions, and each bit position corresponds to a respective egress node of the network.

Bit indexed explicit replication

Computer systems and methods for improving a computer's ability to interface with a user to configure one or more internetworking services provided by a first group of computers for a second group of computers using a pictorial graph with nodes that represent logical network objects. In an embodiment, a computer system comprises: a display; a memory persistently storing a set of instructions and a set of data that defines a plurality of logical network objects; one or more processors coupled to the memory and the display, wherein the one or more processors execute the set of instructions, which causes the one or more processors to: retrieve, from the memory, the set of data that defines a plurality of logical network objects, wherein a first logical network object represents a particular internetworking service that is provided by one or more first computing devices among the plurality of computing devices in the computer network, and a second logical network object represents a corresponding grouping of one or more second computing devices of the plurality of computing devices in the computer network; cause to present, on the display, a plurality of nodes in a first pictorial graph, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes corresponds respectively to each object in the plurality of logical network objects.

Interface for network configuration via graphical representations of network topology and internetworking services

Various systems and methods for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) using IPv6. For example, one method involves receiving, at a node, a packet that includes an IP header. The packet also includes a multicast forwarding entry. The method also involves comparing the multicast forwarding entry with forwarding information stored by the node and selecting a neighbor based on the comparing. The method further includes forwarding the packet to the neighbor.

Bit indexed explicit replication using internet protocol version 6

Methods, devices and program instructions are disclosed for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) including fast reroute capability. One embodiment of a method includes receiving, from an egress node of a BIER network, an advertisement at a forwarding node, where the advertisement identifies a mapping of the egress node to a bit position of a packet bit string to be carried by a packet through the network. The embodiment further includes generating or updating a primary entry for the egress node in a bit indexed routing table (BIRT) for the forwarding node, and determining whether a backup entry for the egress node is to be included in the BIRT. In response to a determination that a backup entry is to be included, the embodiment further includes generating or updating the backup entry in the BIRT.

Per-prefix LFA FRR with bit indexed explicit replication

Methods, devices and computer readable storage media for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) are disclosed. One embodiment of a method includes receiving, at an ingress node of a network, a data packet comprising a multicast group identifier. This embodiment also includes obtaining, from a group membership table, a bit mask corresponding to the multicast group identifier. The bit mask comprises a plurality of bit positions, and each bit position corresponds to a respective egress node of the network. The embodiment also includes encapsulating the data packet with the bit mask and forwarding the encapsulated data packet using the bit mask.

Various systems and methods for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER). For example, one method involves receiving a membership request at a node. The membership request is received from a host and the membership request identifies a multicast group. In response to receiving the membership request, the node generates a membership message. The membership message includes information identifying the multicast group and information identifying the node. The node transmits the membership to an overlay participant that stores a bit string associated with the multicast group.

A method and network device are disclosed for multicast forwarding. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving at a node configured to use a bit-indexed forwarding table a multicast message comprising an incoming message bit array. The method further includes comparing the incoming message bit array to a first neighbor bit array within a first forwarding table entry, and determining that for at least one relative bit position in the bit arrays a corresponding destination node is both a destination for the message and a reachable destination from a first neighboring node. The method further includes forwarding toward the first neighboring node a copy of the message, where a first node on the path of the forwarded message is not configured to use a respective bit-indexed forwarding table. An embodiment of the device includes a network interface, a memory and a processor configured to perform steps of the method.

Migration support for bit indexed explicit replication

Various systems and methods for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER). For example, one method involves receiving a packet at a node. The packet includes a bit string includes information identifying a plurality of destinations. The node selects an entry in a bit indexed forwarding table (BIFT). The BIFT includes both a primary path entry and a backup path entry. The node forwards the packet based on information in the entry.

Methods and network devices are disclosed for multicast forwarding. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a node a multicast message comprising a message header, where the message header comprises an incoming message bit array and a set identifier value associated with the incoming message bit array. The method further comprises selecting a first forwarding table entry, the first forwarding table entry comprises a set identifier value matching that of the message header. The method further comprises comparing at least a portion of the incoming message bit array to a corresponding portion of a neighbor bit array of the first forwarding table entry, determining that for at least one relative bit position a corresponding destination node is both a destination for the message and a reachable destination from a first neighboring node, and forwarding a copy of the message to the first neighboring node.

Growing community of inventors

Rumson, NJ, United States of America

Christian J Martin