U.S. patent application number 14/022723 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-09 for method for managing ethernet ring network of vlan-based bridge.
This patent application is currently assigned to Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute. The applicant listed for this patent is Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute. Invention is credited to Dae Ub KIM, Sang Min LEE, Jeong Dong RYOO, Tae Whan YOO, Jea Hoon YU.
Application Number | 20140010071 14/022723 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43497251 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140010071 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Dae Ub ; et
al. |
January 9, 2014 |
METHOD FOR MANAGING ETHERNET RING NETWORK OF VLAN-BASED BRIDGE
Abstract
There is provided a method for managing an Ethernet ring network
of a VLAN-based bridge that includes: registering a major-ring VID
(VLAN ID) in a ring port filtering database of a ring protection
link owner node in accordance with a request for registering the
major ring VID (VLAN ID) from an ERP (Ethernet Ring Protection)
controller mounted on the ring protection link owner node of a
major ring; delivering, by the ring protection link owner node, a
VID registration message to other nodes which belong to the major
ring through a ring port; receiving the VID registration message
through the ring port and registering the major ring VID in a ring
port filtering database of each node itself, by each node which
belongs to the major ring; and delivering, by each node which
belongs to the major ring, the VID registration message to other
nodes which belong to the major ring through the ring port.
Inventors: |
KIM; Dae Ub; (Daejeon,
KR) ; LEE; Sang Min; (Daejeon, KR) ; RYOO;
Jeong Dong; (Daejeon, KR) ; YU; Jea Hoon;
(Daejeon, KR) ; YOO; Tae Whan; (Daejeon,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute |
Daejeon |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Electronics and Telecommunications
Research Institute
Daejeon
KR
|
Family ID: |
43497251 |
Appl. No.: |
14/022723 |
Filed: |
September 10, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12841646 |
Jul 22, 2010 |
|
|
|
14022723 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/223 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 12/437 20130101;
H04L 41/0654 20130101; H04L 12/4641 20130101; H04L 12/4637
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/223 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/24 20060101
H04L012/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 24, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0068077 |
Claims
1. A method for managing an Ethernet ring network of a VLAN-based
bridge, comprising: registering a major-ring VID (VLAN ID) in a
ring port filtering database of a ring protection link owner node
in accordance with a request for registering the major ring VID
(VLAN ID) from an ERP (Ethernet Ring Protection) controller mounted
on the ring protection link owner node of a major ring; delivering,
by the ring protection link owner node, a VID registration message
to other nodes which belong to the major ring through a ring port;
receiving the VID registration message through the ring port and
registering the major ring VID in a ring port filtering database of
each node itself, by each node which belongs to the major ring; and
delivering, by each node which belongs to the major ring, the VID
registration message to other nodes which belong to the major ring
through the ring port.
2. A method for managing an Ethernet ring network of a VLAN-based
bridge, comprising: registering a sub-ring VID (VLAN ID) in a ring
port filtering database of a ring protection link owner node in
accordance with a request for registering the sub ring VID (VLAN
ID) from an ERP (Ethernet Ring Protection) controller mounted on
the ring protection link owner node of a sub ring; delivering, by
the ring protection link owner node, a VID registration message to
other nodes which belong to the sub ring and major ring through a
ring port; receiving the VID registration message through the ring
port and registering the sub ring VID in a ring port filtering
database of each node itself, by each node which belongs to the sub
ring and major ring; and delivering, by each node which belongs to
the sub ring and major ring, the VID registration message to other
nodes which belong to the sub ring and major ring through the ring
port.
3. A method for managing an Ethernet ring network of a VLAN-based
bridge, comprising: setting ring ports of an Ethernet ring node
constituting an Ethernet ring, wherein a ring ID of the Ethernet
ring is set; determining whether the Ethernet ring node is a ring
protection link (RPL) owner node or an RPL neighbor node, wherein
an RPL is located between the RPL owner node and the RPL neighbor
node; registering VLAN IDs (VIDs) for performing a traffic channel
blocking and a Ring Automatic Protection Switching (R-APS) channel
blocking in Filtering Databases (FDBs) of the ring ports of the
Ethernet ring node; and performing a topology update of the
Filtering Databases.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/841,646, filed on Jul. 22, 2010, which
claims the priority and the benefit of Korean Patent Application
No. 10-2009-0068077 filed on Jul. 24, 2009, in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a method for managing an
Ethernet ring network of a VLAN-based bridge, and more
particularly, to a technology for managing an Ethernet ring network
for effectively registering a VLAN ID and updating a VLAN entry in
a VLAN filtering database in order to operate Ethernet ring
protection in an Ethernet bridge capable of recognizing a VLAN.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] An Ethernet ring network is constituted by Ethernet bridge
nodes (hereinafter, referred to as `ring nodes`) providing a
plurality of Ethernet ports. Two (one is East: hereinafter,
referred to as `E` and the other is West: hereinafter, referred to
as `W`) of the Ethernet ports of each ring node are used to form a
connection with an adjacent ring node and the rest of the ports are
connected to an Ethernet network outside of the ring network. The
number of ring ports of a node receiving a sub ring may be
increased by one depending on the number of received sub rings.
[0006] In the Ethernet ring network, each of the ring nodes should
create a filtering database table so as to prevent the delivery of
an Ethernet frame from forming an infinite loop. Such loop
prevention may be implemented by logically blocking one
predetermined link called a ring protection link (RPL) in the
Ethernet ring network. The Ethernet ring network has a ring
protection link (RPL) owner node in order to provide such logical
blocking. Herein, the delivery of the infinite loop of the ring is
prevented by logically blocking an Ethernet port connected with the
ring protection link among Ethernet ports of the ring protection
link owner node. When both sides of the ring protection link need
to be logically blocked, a node position at the opposite side to
the ring protection link owner node of the ring protection link may
be called a ring protection link (RPL) node.
[0007] Meanwhile, when a link failure occurs in the Ethernet ring
network, the link with the failure provides physical blocking and
when the link with the failure is blocked in order to prevent an
error, the ring protection link owner node prevents the delivery of
the infinite loop of the ring and connects all nodes that belong to
the ring network by rapidly removing logical blocking. For the ring
blocking and ring management, and state delivery, an R-APS message
is used.
[0008] As such, in order to provide the Ethernet ring protection,
the filtering database table should be created in order to prevent
the delivery of a frame of each node from forming an infinite loop
in the Ethernet ring. For this, by deactivating one link
constituting the ring by blocking a predetermined link in the
Ethernet ring, the corresponding link is processed as if it does
not exist, thereby logically preventing the ring from being formed.
Further, the delivery of the infinite loop is prevented by creating
a delivery table in each node in accordance with a source address
learning method used in a general Ethernet MAC (Media Access
Control) mechanism.
[0009] Herein, the blocked link is just logically designated and a
physical link exists. Therefore, traffic can be delivered
immediately by removing the logical blocking.
[0010] The technology related to the Ethernet ring protection is
actively being developed at present. Specifically, the technology
may relate to a protection operation process of an ERP (Ethernet
Ring Protection) controller for Ethernet protection and a direct
signaling technology of an R-APS frame.
[0011] However, a method for configuring an Ethernet ring network
topology in an Ethernet bridge capable of recognizing a VLAN in
order to implement the Ethernet ring protection technology, and a
management method related to registration of a VLAN ID and the
updating of a VLAN entry in a VLAN filtering database, which is
required to operate the ERP controller, do not exist.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] An aspect of the present invention provides a method for
managing an Ethernet ring network of a VLAN-based bridge for
effectively registering a VLAN ID and updating a VLAN entry in a
VLAN filtering database in order to operate Ethernet ring
protection in an Ethernet bridge capable of recognizing a VLAN.
[0013] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method for managing an Ethernet ring network of a
VLAN-based bridge, including: registering a major-ring VID (VLAN
ID) in a ring port filtering database of a ring protection link
owner node in accordance with a request for registering the major
ring VID (VLAN ID) from an ERP (Ethernet Ring Protection)
controller mounted on the ring protection link owner node of a
major ring; delivering, by the ring protection link owner node, a
VID registration message to other nodes which belong to the major
ring through a ring port; receiving the VID registration message
through the ring port and registering the major ring VID in a ring
port filtering database of each node itself, by each node which
belongs to the major ring; and delivering, by each node which
belongs to the major ring, the VID registration message to other
nodes which belong to the major ring through the ring port.
[0014] The method further includes: when a VID requiring an ERP
service among VIDs registered in each node which belongs to the
major ring exists, requesting, by an ERP controller of a node in
which the VID requiring the ERP service is registered, registration
of the VID; registering the VID in a ring port filtering database
of the node in which the VID requiring the ERP service is
registered; delivering, by the node in which the
[0015] VID requiring the ERP service is registered, a VID
registration message to other nodes which belong to the major ring
through the ring port; receiving the VID registration message
through the ring port and registering the VID in the ring port
filtering database of the each node itself, by the each node which
belongs to the major ring; and delivering, by each node which
belongs to the major ring, the VID registration message to other
nodes which belong to the major ring through the ring port.
[0016] Herein, when each node which belongs to the major ring
receives the VID registration message sent by each node itself,
registration of the major ring VID or the VID in all ring port
filtering databases of each node which belongs to the major ring is
completed.
[0017] The method further includes, when a node which belongs to
the major ring receives a new VID registration message within a
predetermined time after registration of the major ring VID or the
VID is completed, determining whether or not the VID requiring the
ERP service among the VIDs registered in each node which belongs to
the major ring exists and if the corresponding VID exists,
performing the requesting, by the ERP controller of the node in
which the VID requiring the ERP service is registered, registration
of the VID.
[0018] On the contrary, the method further includes when each node
which belongs to the major ring does not receive the new VID
registration message within a predetermined time after registration
of the major ring VID or the VID is completed, operating an ERP
function. The method further includes, when registration of the new
VID is needed in a node which belongs to the major ring after the
ERP function is operated, determining whether or not the VID
requiring the ERP service exists among the VIDs registered in each
node which belongs to the major ring, and if the corresponding VID
exists, performing the requesting, by the ERP controller of the
node in which the VID requiring the ERP service is registered,
registration of the VID.
[0019] The method further includes, when any one of flushing,
blocking, and opening of the ring port is performed during ERP
operation at the node which belongs to the major ring after the ERP
function is operated, flushing, blocking, and opening both the VID
requiring the ERP service among the VLAN services registered in the
ring port and the major ring VID or the corresponding sub ring
VID.
[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a method for managing an Ethernet ring network of a
VLAN-based bridge, including: registering a sub-ring VID (VLAN ID)
in a ring port filtering database of a ring protection link owner
node in accordance with a request for registering the sub ring VID
(VLAN ID) from an ERP (Ethernet Ring Protection) controller mounted
on the ring protection link owner node of a sub ring; delivering,
by the ring protection link owner node, a VID registration message
to other nodes which belong to the sub ring and major ring through
a ring port; receiving the VID registration message through the
ring port and registering the sub ring VID in a ring port filtering
database of each node itself, by each node which belongs to the sub
ring and major ring; and delivering, by each node which belongs to
the sub ring and major ring, the VID registration message to other
nodes which belong to the sub ring and major ring through the ring
port.
[0021] The method further includes: when a VID requiring an ERP
service among VIDs registered in a node of the sub ring exists,
requesting, by an ERP controller of a node in which the VID
requiring the ERP service is registered, registration of the VID;
registering the VID in a ring port filtering database of the node
in which the VID requiring the ERP service is registered;
delivering, by the node in which the VID requiring the ERP service
is registered, a VID registration message to other nodes which
belong to the sub ring and major ring through the ring port;
receiving the VID registration message through the ring port and
registering the VID in the ring port filtering database of the each
node itself, by each node which belongs to the sub ring and major
ring; and delivering, by each node which belongs to the sub ring
and major ring, the VID registration message to other nodes which
belong to the sub ring and major ring through the ring port.
[0022] When each node which belongs to the sub ring receives the
VID registration message sent by each node itself, registration of
the sub ring VID or the VID in all ring port filtering databases of
each node which belongs to the sub ring and major ring is
completed.
[0023] When a node which belongs to the sub ring receives a new VID
registration message within a predetermined time after registration
of the sub ring VID or the VID is completed, determining whether or
not the VID requiring the ERP service among the VIDs registered in
the node of the sub ring exists and if the corresponding VID
exists, performing the requesting, by the ERP controller of the
node in which the VID requiring the ERP service, registration of
the VID.
[0024] On the contrary, the method further includes when each node
which belongs to the sub ring does not receive the new VID
registration message within a predetermined time after registration
of the sub ring VID or the VID is completed, operating an ERP
function. The method further includes, when registration of the new
VID is needed in a node which belongs to the sub ring after the ERP
function is operated, determining whether or not the VID requiring
the ERP service exists among the VIDs registered in the node of the
sub ring and if the corresponding VID exists, performing the
requesting, by the ERP controller of the node in which the VID
requiring the ERP service is registered, registration of the
VID.
[0025] The method further includes when any one of flushing,
blocking, and opening of the ring port is performed during ERP
operation at the node which belongs to the sub ring after the ERP
function is operated, flushing, blocking, and opening both the VID
requiring the ERP service among the VLAN services registered in the
ring port and the major ring VID or the corresponding sub ring
VID.
[0026] According to still another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method for managing an Ethernet ring network of
a VLAN-based bridge, including: setting a ring ID (M, Sn) for each
ring, declaring ports constituting each ring as a ring port, and
setting a direction of a ring port of each of nodes constituting
each ring; determining a ring protection link owner node and a ring
protection link node by declaring a ring protection link for each
ring; setting a major ring VID (VLAN ID) and a sub-ring VID (VLAN
ID) for the delivery of an R-APS message and ring management and
registering the major-ring VID and the sub-ring VID in forwarding
databases of ring ports of the major ring; and updating an VID to
which an ERP (Ethernet Ring Protection) function is applied among
VIDs registered in forwarding database entries of all ring
ports.
[0027] The updating of the VID further includes: registering all
VIDs to which the ERP function is applied in the major ring in
forwarding databases of all ring ports of nodes constituting the
major ring; and registering all VIDs to which the ERP function is
applied in the sub ring in forwarding databases of all ring ports
of nodes constituting the sub ring and major ring. The updating of
the VID includes when another lower sub ring is hierarchically
provided in the sub ring, registering all VIDs in the lower sub
ring in forwarding databases of all ring ports of nodes
constituting the lower sub ring and the sub ring.
[0028] At the updating of the VID, when a ring port is changed,
VIDs related to the ring port are configured by grouping entries
including VIDs of the ring port so as to flush, block, and open
items of filtering databases related to all VIDs in the ring port
at the same time.
[0029] The method further includes when any one of flushing,
blocking and opening of the ring port during ERP operation is
performed at the nodes which belong to the major ring and the sub
ring, flushing, blocking, and opening both a VID requiring an ERP
service among the VLAN services registered in the ring port and the
major-ring VID or the corresponding sub-ring VID.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] The above and other aspects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0031] FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing one example of an
Ethernet network adopting a VLAN;
[0032] FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an example in which a general
filtering database of an Ethernet network and a table summarizing
the general filtering database are configured;
[0033] FIG. 2B is a diagram showing set-up of VID of filtering
databases of 6 bridges constituting a physical ring in an Ethernet
network shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;
[0034] FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing one example in which an
existing logical tree structure is converted into a logical ring
structure by applying Ethernet ring protection to a VLAN tree type
network structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0035] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing one example of a change
of a network topology of a major ring and a change of filtering
database set-up of a ring port by a method for managing an Ethernet
ring network of a VLAN-based bridge for applying Ethernet ring
protection according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0036] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing one example of a change
of an entire network topology and a change of filtering database
set-up of a ring port by a method for managing an Ethernet ring
network of a VLAN-based bridge for applying Ethernet ring
protection according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0037] FIGS. 6A to 6F are diagrams showing a filtering database
updated by a method for managing an Ethernet ring network of a
VLAN-based bridge for applying Ethernet ring protection according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
[0038] FIGS. 7A and 7B are flowcharts of a process of managing an
Ethernet ring network of a VLAN-based bridge for applying Ethernet
ring protection according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0039] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings, which will fully convey the concept of the invention to
those skilled in the art. Moreover, detailed descriptions related
to well-known functions or configurations will be ruled out in
order not to unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the
present invention. It is also noted that like reference numerals
denote like elements in appreciating the drawings.
[0040] Recognizing a VLAN, and registering and processing a VLAN ID
are generally called VIDs of S-Tag (S-VID), B-Tag (B-VID), and
I-Tag (I-SID) frames in addition to a C-Tag (C-VID) frame of a
basic VLAN-based service. Further, the registering and processing
the VLAN ID according to the present invention may be also applied
to an ID of an MPLS label in the same manner as above and, in the
present invention, it is briefly called a VLAN ID, that is, a
VID.
[0041] Further, a bridge described in the present invention
includes an Ethernet bridge based on IEEE 802.1D and a provider
bridge (PB), a provider backbone bridge (PBB), and a provisioned
provider backbone bridge (PBB-TE or PBT) adopting traffic
engineering, acquired by the Ethernet bridge based on IEEE 802.1D.
Furthermore, bridge function processing may be applied similarly,
even to a switch providing MPLS label switching, and in the present
invention it is briefly called a bridge.
[0042] Further, a filtering database described in the present
invention includes a table including an address and other
attributes required to perform a bridge function and a switch
function in addition to a filtering database of the Ethernet bridge
having entry attributes such as an MAC address, a VID, and the
like.
[0043] First, prior to describing the present invention, Ethernet
ring protection will be briefly described.
[0044] FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing one example of an
Ethernet network adopting a VLAN. Specifically, FIGS. 1A and 1B are
an example of a VLAN network topology through a virtual LAN (VLAN)
at an Ethernet bridge capable of recognizing a basic VLAN
(supporting an IEEE 802.1Q service). Herein, B1 to B14 are bridges
capable of recognizing the VLAN and each bridge includes 12 ports,
P1 to P12. For convenience of description, it is assumed that ports
P2, P5, P8, and P11 of the bridge are links connected between the
bridges and the rest of the ports are ports connected with a
terminal.
[0045] Most Ethernet networks are configured in a physical ring
form by full mesh connection. However, when the Ethernet network is
configured in the form of a loop or a ring, frames are flooded,
and, as a result, the traffic is flooded in the network.
Accordingly, in order to solve the problem, the network should be
statically designed not to generate a loop, or the loop should be
prevented from being generated by using a protocol such as a
spanning tree protocol (STP).
[0046] Meanwhile, in order to configure a virtual LAN (VLAN)
network, unnecessary frame delivery is prevented by registering a
VID in a filtering database entry of each port at each end terminal
and each bridge. At this time, at each port, a plurality of VIDs
may be registered depending on a VLAN region to which each port
belongs.
[0047] A static VLAN registration entry for a VLAN operator itself
to statically set a VLAN network and a dynamic VLAN entry to be
dynamically updated by adopting a GVRP (GVRP VLAN Registration
Protocol) or an MVRP (Multiple VLAN Registration Protocol) are
included in the filtering database. "Default PVID=1" which is a
basic VLAN is set in the static VLAN registration entry.
[0048] FIG. 1A shows VIDs registered in a filtering database of
each receiving side (a receiving unit of an end terminal and a
receiving end of a bridge port) of a link connected between an end
terminal port and the bridge port. Further, FIG. 1B shows an
Ethernet network adopting the VIDs registered in the filtering
database.
[0049] In FIGS. 1A and 1B, three VLANs having VIDs of 5, 6, and 8
are provided and the corresponding VID should be registered in a
receiving-end filtering database entry of each bridge for each VLAN
service.
[0050] For example, in FIG. 1B, in the case of bridge B1, the VIDs
of 5, 6, and 8 should be registered in a receiving-end filtering
database entry of port P1 for the VLAN service, the VIDs of 5 and 6
should be registered in the entry of port P2, the VIDs of 5 and 6
in the entry of port P5, the VID of 8 should be registered in the
entry of port P6, the VID of 5 should be registered in the entry of
port P7, the VID 8 should be registered in the entry of port P8,
the VIDs of 6 and 8 should be registered in the entry of port P11,
and the VID of 6 should be registered in the entry of port P12.
[0051] Further, in the case of the end terminal connected to B1
(P1) in FIG. 1B, three VLANs can be accessed only when the VIDs of
5, 6, and 8 are registered in the entry of the filtering database
of the receiving port.
[0052] FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an example in which a general
filtering database of an Ethernet network and a table summarizing
the general filtering database are configured and FIG. 2B is a
diagram showing a set-up of VID of filtering databases of 6 bridges
constituting a physical ring in an Ethernet network shown in FIGS.
1A and 1B.
[0053] The filtering database is classified into a static VLAN
registration entry and a dynamic VLAN registration entry in
accordance with the registration method. Further, the filtering
database is classified into an independent VLAN learning (IVL)
filtering database and a shared VLAN learning (SVL) filtering
database in accordance with a VID management type.
[0054] The independent VLAN learning filtering database represents
a method for managing the filtering database independently for each
VID as shown in FIG. 2A(a) and the shared VLAN learning filtering
database is a method for managing all VIDs by using one filtering
database as shown in FIG. 2A(b). Both methods may be
alternately.
[0055] FIG. 2A (c) shows setting the VID in the independent VLAN
learning filtering database for bridge B1 and FIG. 2A(d) shows
setting the VID in the shared VLAN learning filtering database.
[0056] In the present invention, setting the filtering database
entry in the VID registration method of the Ethernet ring
protection is summarized as shown in FIG. 2A(e).
[0057] FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing one example in which an
existing logical tree structure is converted into a logical ring
structure by applying Ethernet ring protection to a VLAN tree type
network structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, and shows a ring structure in which a major ring
is formed and a sub ring is formed to the right side of the major
ring.
[0058] In the VLAN tree type network structure shown in FIGS. 1A
and 1B, the filtering database entry and the VID set-up should be
updated as proposed in the present invention in order to apply the
Ethernet ring protection (ERP) technology as shown in FIGS. 3A and
3B.
[0059] First, a case in which the VLAN ID is statically registered
in the static VLAN registration entry or the VLAN entry is updated
by a user in a manual method or a provisioned method will be
described.
[0060] A ring ID (M, S1) is set for each ring, ports constituting
the ring are declared as a ring port (RP), and directions (East and
West) of two ring ports of each of nodes constituting the ring are
set.
[0061] For example, in FIG. 3B, ring ports of the major ring
include B1(E:P11, W:P8), B4 (E:P2, W:P11), B5 (E:P5, W:P2), and B6
(E:P8, W: P5) and ring ports of the sub ring include B2 (E:P11,
W:P8), B3 (E:P2, W:P11), B4 (E:P5, W:P2), and B1 (E:P8, W:P5).
[0062] Thereafter, a ring protection link owner node and a ring
protection link node are determined by declaring a ring protection
link which is located at a position to be blocked by an ERP
controller for each ring.
[0063] For example, in FIG. 3B, B1 (E:P11) is declared as the ring
protection link of the major ring and B2 (E:P11) is declared as the
ring protection link of the sub ring.
[0064] Thereafter, a predetermined VID (M=2: hereinafter, referred
to as `MVID`, S1=3: hereinafter, referred to as `S1VID`) for the
delivery of an R-APS message and ring management is set and the
MVID and S1VID are registered in corresponding ring ports of the
major ring. At this time, the predetermined VID may be set as a VID
(MVID=8, S1VID=5) which uniquely exists in each ring of an ERP ring
network among VIDs that already exist in a topology, but it is
efficient to increasing the priority rather than other traffic VIDs
by setting the predetermined VID to other VIDs in order to improve
the performance of protection.
[0065] A forwarding database entry of the ring port is updated in
order to update all VIDs to which the Ethernet ring protection will
be applied by applying an ERP function among VIDs registered in
forwarding database entries of all ports constituting each
ring.
[0066] At this time, in a multiple ring structure, all VIDs in the
major ring to which the ERP function will be applied in the major
ring are registered in forwarding databases of all ring ports of
the nodes constituting the major ring. For example, in FIG. 3B, a
VLAN service having the VIDs of 5, 6, and 8 is registered in the
forwarding databases of all major ring ports.
[0067] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing one example of a change
of a network topology of a major ring and a change of filtering
database set-up of a ring port by a method for managing an Ethernet
ring network of a VLAN-based bridge for applying Ethernet ring
protection according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0068] Specifically, FIGS. 4A and 4B show an Ethernet ring network
in which predetermined VIDs are registered for the delivery of the
R-APS message and the ring management, the ports B1 (E:P11, W:P8),
B4 (E:P2, W:P11), B5 (E:P5, W:P2), and B6 (E:P8, W:P5) of the major
ring are registered, the ports B2 (E:P11, W:P8), B3 (E:P2, W:P11),
B4 (E:P5, W:P2), and B1 (E:P8, W:P5) of the sub ring are
registered, all VLAN services (VIDs) to which the ERP function will
be applied in the major ring, VID=6 and VID=8, are registered in
the ports of the major ring, B1 (E:P11), B1 (W:P8), B4 (E:P2), B4
(W:P11), B5 (E:P5), B5 (W:P2), B6 (E:P8), and B6 (W:P5).
[0069] In the case of registration of the filtering database of the
sub ring in the multiple ring structure, all VLAN services (VIDs)
in the sub ring to which the ERP function will be applied in the
sub ring should be registered in forwarding databases in all the
ring ports of each node of the sub ring and each node of the major
ring.
[0070] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagram showing one example of a change
of the topology of an entire network, and a change of a filtering
database set-up of a ring port by a method for managing an Ethernet
ring network of a VLAN-based bridge for applying Ethernet ring
protection according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0071] Specifically, FIGS. 5A and 5B show an Ethernet ring network
in which all VLAN services (VIDs) to which the ERP function will be
applied in the sub ring, VID=5 and VID=6, are registered in the
ports B1 (E:P11), B1 (W:P8), B4 (E:P2), B4 (W:P11), B5 (E:P5), B5
(W:P2), B6 (E:P8), and B6 (W:P5) of the major ring and the ports B2
(E:P11), B2 (W:P8), B3 (E:P2), B3 (W:P11), B4 (E:P5), B4 (W:P2), B1
(E:P8), and B1 (W:P5) of the sub ring.
[0072] Although not shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, even in the case of a
plurality of sub rings, registration is processed in the same
manner as described above. Further, even in the case in which
another sub ring is hierarchically provided in the sub ring,
registration is processed in the same manner as above. In other
words, all VLAN services (VIDs) in a lower sub ring should be
registered in the forwarding databases of all ring ports of each
node in an upper ring rather than the lower sub ring in addition to
each node in the corresponding lower sub ring.
[0073] FIGS. 6A to 6F are diagrams showing a filtering database
updated by a method for managing an Ethernet ring network of a
VLAN-based bridge for applying Ethernet ring protection according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0074] When a failure occurs in any ring port, thus, the ring port
is changed, VIDs related the ring port are configured by grouping
entries including VIDs in the corresponding port as shown in FIGS.
6A to 6F so as to flush, block, and open items of filtering
databases related to all VIDs (i.e., MVID and SnVID) in the ring
port at the same time.
[0075] FIGS. 7A and 7B are flowcharts of a process of managing an
Ethernet ring network of a VLAN-based bridge for applying Ethernet
ring protection according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. FIGS. 7A and 7B show the above-mentioned static
registration process and a process of dynamically registering the
VLAN ID and updating the VLAN entry in the dynamic VLAN
registration entry by using GVRP or MVRP, in detail.
[0076] First, the ERP controller for Ethernet ring protection is
mounted (S1).
[0077] Thereafter, ports constituting a ring at each ring node are
declared as a ring port, directions of two ring ports are set to
East and West, and a ring protection link which is located at a
position to be blocked by the ERP controller is set for each ring
(S2).
[0078] Then, a ring ID (M, S1) of each ring is set and the
corresponding VID is set (S3).
[0079] Next, registration using the GVRP or MVRP or not is
determined (S4) and when the registration uses the GVRP or MVRP,
the process proceeds to A of FIG. 7B and otherwise, the VLAN ID is
statically registered or the VLAN entry is updated as described
above.
[0080] Specifically, if the registration does not use the GVRP or
MVRP, the MVID is registered in ring port filtering databases of
all nodes in a major ring (S5) and when a VID requiring an ERP
service exists among the VIDs registered in the major ring node,
the corresponding VID is registered in all ring port filtering
databases of the major ring (S7).
[0081] At the same time, SnVID is registered in ring port filtering
databases of all nodes of the major ring and a sub ring (S6) and
when the VID requiring the ERP service exists among the VIDs
registered in the sub ring node, the corresponding VID is
registered in the all ring port filtering databases of the major
ring and the sub ring (S8).
[0082] When registration of the VID requiring the ERP service is
completed, operation of an ERP function is started (S9) and it is
periodically determined whether or not registration of a new VID is
needed (S10). If registration of the new VID is needed, the process
proceeds to step S7 in the case of a node that belongs to the major
ring (S11) and otherwise, the process proceeds to step S8 and the
above steps are repetitively performed.
[0083] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 7B, if the registration uses
the GVRP or MVRP, it is first determined whether or not the
corresponding node is a ring protection link owner node (S12).
[0084] If the corresponding node is the ring protection link owner
node of the major ring, the ERP controller mounted on the
corresponding node requests the registration of MVID by making a
GVRP frame transmission request (GID_Join.request) (S13). At this
time, the MVID is registered in a ring port filtering database of
the corresponding node and thereafter, a GVRP registration message
is delivered to another node through the ring port by using a GIP
(GARP Information Propagation) function unit (S15).
[0085] Meanwhile, if the VID requiring the ERP service among
predetermined VLAN services registered in each major ring node
exists, the ERP controller of the corresponding node of the major
ring requests registration of the corresponding VID (S14) and as a
result, the corresponding VID is registered in the ring port
filtering database of the corresponding node of the major ring and
thereafter, the GVRP registration message is delivered to another
node through the ring port by using the GIP function unit
(S16).
[0086] Thereafter, as the GVRP registration message is received
through the ring port at each node of the major ring, the
corresponding MVID or the corresponding VID is registered in the
ring port filtering database of the corresponding node by using a
GID (GARP Information Declaration) function unit and thereafter,
the GVRP registration message is delivered to another node through
the ring port by using the GIP function unit (S17).
[0087] When each node of the major ring receives the GVRP
registration message sent by itself, registration of the MVID or
VID in all ring ports of each node is completed (S18).
[0088] If the corresponding node is the ring protection link owner
node of the sub ring, the ERP controller mounted on the
corresponding node requests registration of SnVID by making the
GVRP frame transmission request (GID_Join.request) (S19). At this
time, the SnVID is registered in a ring port filtering database of
the corresponding node and thereafter, the GVRP registration
message is delivered to another node through the ring port by using
the GIP function unit (S21).
[0089] Meanwhile, if the VID requiring the ERP service among
predetermined VLAN services registered in a predetermined sub ring
node exists, the ERP controller of the corresponding node of the
sub ring requests registration of the corresponding VID (S20) and
as a result, the corresponding VID is registered in the ring port
filtering database of the corresponding node of the sub ring and
thereafter, the GVRP registration message is delivered to another
node through the ring port by using the GIP function unit
(S22).
[0090] Thereafter, as the GVRP registration message is received
through the ring port at each node of the corresponding sub ring
and major ring, the corresponding SnVID or the corresponding VID is
registered in the ring port filtering database of the corresponding
node by using the GID function unit and thereafter, the GVRP
registration message is delivered to another node through the ring
port by using the GIP function unit (S23).
[0091] When each node of the corresponding sub ring receives the
GVRP registration message sent by itself, registration of the SnVID
or VID in all ring ports of each node of the corresponding sub ring
and major ring is completed (S24).
[0092] Thereafter, it is determined whether a new VID request or
VID registration message is received within a predetermined time
(S25) and if the new VID request or VID registration message is
received, the process proceeds to step S14 in the case of a node
that belongs to the major ring and otherwise, the process proceeds
to step S20 and the above-mentioned steps are repetitively
performed.
[0093] On the contrary, if the new VID request or VID registration
message is not received within a predetermined time, an operation
of the ERP function is started (S26) and it is periodically
determined whether or not registration of a new VID is needed
(S27), and if registration of the new VID is needed, the process
proceeds to step S14 or S20 depending on the node that belongs to
the major ring or not (S28) and thus, the above-mentioned steps are
repetitively performed.
[0094] By the above-mentioned procedure, when the operation of the
ERP function is started after registration of the VID requiring the
ERP service among the predetermined VLAN services in the major ring
and the sub ring is completed, the VID and MVID or SnVID requiring
the ERP service among the predetermined VLAN services registered in
the corresponding port are flushed, blocked, and opened while the
ring port is flushed, blocked, and opened during ERP operation at
the nodes of each of the major ring and the sub ring, as a result,
a ring protection function for a predetermined VLAN service may be
performed.
[0095] All the operations should be performed before operation of
the ERP function of the ERP controller is started. During the
process, the physical blocking or blocking for preventing loop of
the Ethernet network configured by using an STP protocol is
maintained as it is and the tree type network topology should also
be maintained.
[0096] As set forth above, according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention, an Ethernet ring protection technology can
be applied to a VLAN-based Ethernet ring network by effectively
converting a VLAN network topology into a VLAN topology suitable
for Ethernet ring protection.
[0097] While the present invention has been shown and described in
connection with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *