JP2003204346A - Edge apparatus for virtual private network system and method for distributing resources therein - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an adverse effect on a variety of shared resources distribution of a partial VR by setting a communication buffer region and a route table region in an edge apparatus at each VR. <P>SOLUTION: The edge apparatus comprises a plurality of virtual routers (VR-1 to VR-n) allocated to a plurality of edge routers (2-1 to 2-n) in a user network (1) for conducting a routing process between a user network and an IP network (2), a communication buffer (23) used by the plurality of the virtual routers, a route table (24) used by the plurality of the virtual routers, and resources aligning means (21, 22) for allocating at least one region of the buffer and the table to each of the plurality of the virtual routers. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an IP-VPN (In
ternet Protocol-Virtual Private Network) An edge device of a telecommunications carrier that provides services.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A telecommunications carrier uses its own IP network for IP-
When providing a VPN service, generally, a plurality of VPNs (Virtual Priv
ate Network: Virtual Private Network), and allocate it to each user.

An IP network of a telecommunications carrier is connected to an edge router of each user network, an edge device for performing a routing process between the IP network and the user network, and a core device which is connected at high speed as a backbone between the edge devices. Composed of and. In the edge device, a plurality of VRs (Virtual Routers) are defined and assigned to each user network.

Further, when each VR communicates with a VR of another edge device, a logical line in which a physical line in the core device is multiplexed is used. As a result, an IP-VPN is constructed by constructing a plurality of connection configurations by a combination of "edge router (user network) -VR-core device-VR-edge router (user network)".

In this case, the total of the communication buffer area for forwarding and the route table area for routing used in each VR of the edge device is fixed at a fixed amount in the edge device, and is set in all VRs in the edge device. Share.

[0006]

As described above, when a certain amount of communication buffer area or route table area is shared by each VR in the edge device, conventionally, the communication buffer area or route table area for each VR is conventionally used. Since the number of blocks in the unit of use, that is, the use area is not limited, if, for example, a certain VR uses most of the use area, the remaining VR has less available area. As a result, communication within the VPN becomes unstable, which may have an adverse effect. Further, in order to prevent such an adverse effect, there is only a method of externally limiting the number of used unit blocks of the used buffer area and the number of used unit blocks of the route table area in the VPN in the service operation of the IP-VPN. It was

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by setting the communication buffer area and the route table area in the edge device for each VR, adverse effects on distribution of various shared resources of some VRs can be prevented. The purpose is to prevent.

[0008]

Therefore, first, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first aspect of the present invention is to allocate to a plurality of edge routers in a user network, respectively. A plurality of virtual routers for performing routing processing between the plurality of virtual routers, a communication buffer shared by the plurality of virtual routers, a route table shared by the plurality of virtual routers, and at least one of the communication buffer and the route table. An edge device, comprising: resource allocation means for allocating one area to each of the plurality of virtual routers.

According to this invention, since the use area can be assigned to each virtual router, it is possible to prevent the adverse effect on the VR due to the resource allocation.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An edge device in a VPN according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an IP-VPN including an edge device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the IP-VPN in this embodiment is composed of a user network 1, an IP network 2 and a user network 7.
Consists of.

The user network 1 includes users 10-1 to 1
Edge routers 2-1 to 2-n are assigned to each 0-n. On the other hand, the IP network 2 includes an edge device 3, a core device 4 and an edge device 5.

The edge device 3 performs a routing process between the user network 1 and the IP network 2, and implements VR1-1 to VRn-1 by software. VR
1-1 to VRn-1 are edge routers 2-1 to 2-1 respectively.
2-n, and the edge routers 2-1 and 2-1
Routing processing between -n and the core device 4 is performed.

Similarly, the edge device 5 is connected to the user network 7 and I
The routing process with the P network 2 is performed.
VR1-2 to VRn-2 are realized by software. The VR1-2 to VRn-2 are connected to the edge routers 6-1 to 6-n, respectively, and the edge router 6-1.
.. 6-n and the core device 4 are routed.

The core device 4 is provided for high speed connection between the edge devices as a backbone, and is provided with a logical line 14 in which physical lines 12 and 13 are multiplexed for high speed communication between the edge devices. .

In such a configuration, VPN1 of "edge router 2-1 to VR1-1 to core device 4 to VR1-2 to edge router 6-1" is changed to "edge router 2-n.
VRn-1 to core device 4 to VRn-2 to edge router 6
A plurality of VPN1 to VPNn up to VPNn of "-n" are constructed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the edge device 3 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the edge device 3 has a plurality of VR1-1 to VRn-1, and a communication buffer area 23, a route table area 24, a communication buffer controller 21, and a route table controller. 22.

The communication buffer controller 21 has a plurality of VR1s.
The communication buffer area 23 used by -1 to VRn-1 is managed for each VR.

The route table control unit 22 uses a plurality of VRs.
The route table area 24 used by 1-1 to VRn-1 is managed for each VR.

The communication buffer area 23 has a plurality of VR1-.
1 to VRn-1 for storing communication data that is routed and processed, and the entire capacity thereof is determined by the edge device 3. In the communication buffer area 23, a unit that can be used is determined in advance (for example, 100 Kbytes), and each VR1-1 to VRn-1 is assigned for each unit of use.

The route table area 24 includes a plurality of VR1s.
-1 to VRn-1 are used to store data (for example, a destination address) used in the routing processing performed by each of them, and the entire capacity thereof is determined by the edge device 3. Further, in the route table area 24, a unit that can be used is determined in advance (for example, 100 Kbytes), and each VR1-1 to VRn-1 is allocated for each unit of use.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the communication buffer control unit 21.

As shown in the figure, the communication buffer control unit 2
1 includes a monitor unit 31, a buffer area calculation unit 32, and a data setting unit 33.

The monitor section 31 includes VR1-1 to VRn-.
Number of buffers used and QoS (Quality of Service)
The value is monitored and notified to the buffer area calculation unit 32. Here, the QoS value may be set in each of VR1-1 to VRn-1 or may not be set. When set, for example, the capacity of the buffer area (use of the buffer area) The number of units) is specified.

The buffer area calculation unit 32 includes a monitor unit 31.
Based on the number of used buffers and QoS value of each VR1-1 to VRn-1 notified from, the buffer area of each VR1-1 to VRn-1 is determined, and the data setting unit 33 Each VR1-1 to VRn-1 determined
Set the buffer area of. The calculation method in the buffer area calculation unit 32 will be described later.

The data setting unit 33 is configured to set each VR1
-1 to VRn-1 buffer areas are set to VR1-1 to VR
Set to n-1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the route table control unit 22.

As shown in the figure, the route table control unit 22 includes a monitor unit 41 and a route table area calculation unit 42.
And a data setting unit 43.

The monitor unit 41 has VR1-1 to VRn-.
The number of used routes and the QoS value of 1 are monitored and notified to the route table region area calculation unit 42. Here, the QoS value may be set in each of VR1-1 to VRn-1 or may not be set. When set, for example, the capacity of the route table area (route table area The number of units used) is specified.

The route table area calculation unit 42 performs a predetermined calculation based on the number of used routes and the QoS value of each VR1-1 to VRn-1 notified from the monitor unit 41, and each VR1-1 to VRn-. No. 1 route table area is determined, and the determined VR 1-1 is set in the data setting unit 43.
Set the route table area of VRn-1. In addition,
The calculation method in the route table area calculation unit 42 will be described later.

The data setting unit 43 sets each VR1 that has been set.
-1 to VRn-1 route table areas are assigned to each VR1-1.
~ VRn-1.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of each VR1-1 to VRn-1.

As shown in the figure, VR has a maximum communication buffer area storage unit 51 and a maximum route table area storage unit 5.
2, used buffer number counter 53, QoS value storage unit 54
And a used route number counter 55.

The maximum communication buffer area storage unit 51 stores the buffer area set by the data setting unit 33 of the communication buffer control unit 21. Specifically, the maximum communication buffer area storage unit 51 stores the number of units of use of the communication buffer area. The VR performs the routing process by using the stored buffer area as the maximum communication buffer area.

The maximum route table area storage unit 52 stores the route table area set by the data setting unit 43 of the route table control unit 22. In particular,
The maximum route table area storage unit 52 stores the number of units of use of the route table area. The VR performs the routing process using the stored route table as the maximum route table area.

The used buffer number counter 53 counts the number of units used in the communication buffer area currently used in the VR.

The QoS value storage unit 54 stores QoS values such as the capacity of the buffer area (the number of units of use of the buffer area) and the capacity of the route table area (the number of units of use of the route table area).

The used route number counter 55 counts the number of units of use of the route table area currently used in the VR.

In the above description, the edge device 3 has been described, but the edge device 5 has a similar configuration.

Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of the communication buffer control unit (route table control unit) of the edge device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, the capacity of the communication buffer area currently used by each VR (the capacity of the route table area)
Is checked (S1), and it is judged whether or not the total capacity of the communication buffer areas of each VR (capacity of the route table area) exceeds the capacity of the communication buffer area of the edge device (capacity of the route table area). (S2).

When it is determined in S2 that the capacity of the communication buffer area of the edge device (the capacity of the route table area) is not exceeded, the processing returns to S1. In such a state, each VR can use the required number of communication buffer areas (route table areas).

The used capacity of each VR is, specifically,
It is calculated based on the number of used units of the communication buffer area counted by the used buffer number counter of each VR (the number of used units of the route table area counted by the used route number counter 55).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S2 that the capacity of the communication buffer area of the edge device (the capacity of the route table area) is not exceeded, then whether or not to manually set the capacity of each VR is determined. Is determined (S3). Note that the determination as to whether or not this manual control is performed is made based on the value of the flag set by the user in advance in the edge device.

When it is determined in S3 that the capacity of each VR is to be manually set, the operator sets each V in the data setting section of the communication buffer control section (route table control section).
A capacity for allocating an R communication buffer area (route table area) is set (S4).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S3 that the capacity of each VR is not set manually, the monitor unit
The number of used buffers (number of used routes) and the QoS information are notified to the buffer area calculation unit (route table area calculation unit) (S5).

Next, the buffer area calculation unit (route table area calculation unit) sets a predetermined setting policy based on the number of used buffers (number of used routes) of each VR and the QoS information notified from the monitor unit. Therefore, the set value is calculated and the calculated set value is notified to the data setting unit (S6).

This setting policy is set as follows, for example.

In the communication buffer area, the communication buffer area (the number of communication buffers) is preferentially distributed to the VR for which the QoS is set, and the remaining communication buffer area is used for the VR for which the QoS is not set ( Allocate according to the ratio of the number of used buffers).

The route table area is distributed at a ratio of the number of used routes of each VPN to the total route table area (number of routes).

The data setting section periodically notifies each VR of the communication buffer area (route table area) of each VR calculated manually or by the calculating section (S7). Each V
R communicates in the notified communication buffer area (route table area).

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of each VR.

In each VR, the used buffer number counter, the QoS value stored in the QoS value storage section, and the used route number counter are kept up to date at all times during operation (S
11), communication buffer control unit (route table control unit)
In response to the inquiry from the monitor unit (S12), these parameter values are returned (S13).

Next, in S14, it is determined whether or not there is a notification from the data setting section, and if the notification has not been issued, the process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a notification from the data setting unit, the notified buffer area (communication buffer capacity) is stored in the maximum communication buffer area storage unit 51, and the notified route table area (number of tables) is stored. Is stored in the maximum route table area storage unit 52.

During the routing process, each VR compares the buffer capacity (the number of buffers) stored in the maximum communication buffer area storage unit 51 with the counter value (the number of used buffers) of the used buffer number counter 53 and uses it. When the number of buffers exceeds the notified number of buffers, the buffer capacity (the number of buffers) stored in the maximum communication buffer area storage unit 51 is not exceeded.

Further, each VR, during the routing process,
The number of tables stored in the maximum route table area storage unit 52 is compared with the counter value (the number of used routes) of the number-of-used-routes counter 55. If the number of used routes exceeds the notified number of routes, the used route is determined. Number counter 55
Do not exceed the number of tables stored in.

Therefore, according to the edge device of the present embodiment, by distributing the resources of the communication buffer area and the route table area for each VR, a part of the VR is
It is possible to prevent an adverse effect on the allocation of various shared resources of.

The invention of the present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be variously modified at the stage of implementation without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the method of the present invention can be applied to all resources shared by the VR other than the communication buffer area and the route table area.

[0061]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
Shared resources such as a communication buffer area and a route table area that can be used in the edge device can be distributed at a rate of the usage frequency of the VR, so that a certain VPNn abruptly increases the communication traffic and the route information, which adversely affects other VPNs. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an IP-VPN including an edge device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the edge device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication buffer control unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a route table control unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of each VR-1 to VRn-1.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the edge device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a VR operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 7 ... User network, 2 ... IP network, 2-1 to 2-n, 6-1 to 6-n ... Edge router, 3, 5 ... Edge device, 4 ... Core device, 12, 13 ... Physical line, 14 ... Logical line, 21 ... Communication buffer control unit, 22 ... Route table control unit, 23 ... communication buffer area, 24 ... Route table area, 31, 41 ... Monitor unit, 32, 42 ... Buffer area operation unit, 33, 43 ... Data setting section, 51 ... Maximum communication buffer area storage unit, 52 ... Maximum route table area storage unit, 53 ... Used buffer number counter, 54 ... QoS value storage unit, 55 ... Used route number counter.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of virtual routers that are respectively assigned to a plurality of edge routers in a user network and perform routing processing between the user network and an IP network, and a communication buffer shared by the plurality of virtual routers. And a route table shared by the plurality of virtual routers, and a resource allocation unit that allocates at least one area of the communication buffer and the route table for each of the plurality of virtual routers. apparatus. 2. The resource allocation means sets the area of the communication buffer among the plurality of virtual routers.
An area other than the area of the communication buffer allocated to the virtual router for which the QoS value is set is assigned to the other virtual router with priority over the virtual router for which the QoS value is set. The edge device according to claim 1, wherein the edge device is assigned to the other virtual router according to a use area. 3. The edge device according to claim 1, wherein the resource allocation unit allocates the area of the route table to the plurality of virtual routers according to the number of routes used by the plurality of virtual routers. 4. The edge device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual router does not use resources other than the area allocated by the resource allocation means. 5. The virtual router notifies the resource allocation unit of the usage amount of the communication buffer, the usage amount of the route table, and the QoS value, and the resource allocation unit is notified of the usage amount of the communication buffer. , Route table usage and QoS
The edge device according to claim 1, wherein the areas of the communication buffer and the route table are assigned to each of the plurality of virtual routers based on a value. 6. The edge device according to claim 1, wherein the resource allocating means allocates at least one area of the communication buffer and the table at regular intervals. 7. A plurality of virtual routers that are respectively assigned to a plurality of edge routers in a user network and perform a routing process between the user network and an IP network, and a communication buffer shared by the plurality of virtual routers. And a resource allocation method in an edge device comprising: a route table shared by the plurality of virtual routers, wherein the virtual router notifies the usage amount of the communication buffer, the usage amount of the route table and the QoS value, A resource allocation method, wherein the areas of the communication buffer and the route table are allocated to each of the plurality of virtual routers based on the notified usage of the communication buffer, the usage of the route table, and the QoS value.