P4-based implementation of BIER and BIER-FRR for scalable and resilient multicast. (1st November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Merling, Daniel; Lindner, Steffen; Menth, Michael
• Is Part Of: Journal of network and computer applications. Volume 169(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11-01
• Subjects: Software-defined networking -- P4 -- Bit Index Explicit Replication -- Multicast -- Resilience -- Scalability; Microcomputers -- Periodicals; Computer networks -- Periodicals; Application software -- Periodicals; Micro-ordinateurs -- Périodiques; Réseaux d'ordinateurs -- Périodiques; Logiciels d'application -- Périodiques; Application software; Computer networks; Microcomputers; Periodicals; 004.05; 004
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnca.2020.102764
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1084-8045

Abstract

Abstract: Bit Indexed Explicit Replication (BIER) is a novel IP multicast (IPMC) forwarding paradigm proposed by the IETF. It offers a transport layer for other IPMC traffic, keeps core routers unaware of IPMC groups, and utilizes a routing underlay, e.g., an IP network, for its forwarding decisions. With BIER, core networks do not require dynamic signaling and support a large number of IPMC groups with large churn rates. The contribution of this work is threefold. First, we propose a novel fast reroute (FRR) mechanism for BIER (BIER-FRR) so that IPMC traffic can be rerouted as soon as the routing underlay is able to carry traffic again after a failure. In particular, BIER-FRR enables BIER to profit from FRR mechanisms in the routing underlay. Second, we describe a prototype for BIER and BIER-FRR within an IP network with IP fast reroute (IP-FRR). It is based on the programmable data plane technology P4. Third, we propose a controller hierarchy with local controllers for local tasks, in particular to enable IP-FRR and BIER-FRR. The prototype demonstrates that BIER-FRR reduces the protection time for BIER traffic to the protection time for unicast traffic in the routing underlay.