Two-level load-balancing of network traffic over an MPLS network

摘要

An apparatus for two-level load-balancing in MPLS networks is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first memory portion, a second memory portion, a third memory portion, a fourth memory portion, and logic for programming the memory portions. The first memory portion comprises a plurality of first data structures, where each of the plurality of first data structures includes an IGP label and an adjacency identifier that identifies one of a plurality of outgoing interfaces in the network element, where each IGP label stored in any one of the plurality of first data structures indicates an LSP through the MPLS network. The second memory portion comprises a plurality of IGP load-balancing entries, where each of the plurality of IGP load-balancing entries includes two or more reference values that point to two or more of the plurality of first data structures, and where any two or more IGP labels stored in any two or more of the plurality of first data structures, which are pointed to by any one of the plurality of IGP load-balancing entries, indicate two or more LSPs that all lead to a specific egress network element in the network. For supporting non-VPN traffic, the third memory portion comprises a plurality of BGP load-balancing entries, where each of the plurality of BGP load-balancing entries includes an index value and a pointer that indicates one of the plurality of IGP load-balancing entries. The fourth memory portion comprises a plurality of second data structures, where each of the plurality of second data structures includes a network address identifier and a unique value associated with two or more of the plurality of BGP load-balancing entries.