Method for Implementing Load Balancing, Apparatus, and Network System

A method for implementing load balancing, applied to a system comprising a controller and a mesh network, the mesh network comprising a plurality of switches, and the method comprising:

• receiving, by a first switch, a forwarding table from the controller, the first switch being any one of the switches and comprising a plurality of ports, the ports comprising a network-side port and a user-side port corresponding to different virtual routing and forwarding instances, a first forwarding entry of the forwarding table comprising a first virtual routing and forwarding instance, a first destination network segment corresponding to the first virtual routing and forwarding instance and at least two forwarding paths corresponding to the first destination network segment, and the first virtual routing and forwarding instance comprising a virtual routing and forwarding instance corresponding to all user-side ports of the first switch;
• receiving, by the first switch, a packet;
• and
• selecting, by the first switch according to a load balancing algorithm and the first forwarding entry, a target forwarding path for the packet from the at least two forwarding paths corresponding to the first destination network segment when a port receiving the packet corresponding to the first destination network segment comprises the user-side port;
• and
• forwarding, by the first switch, the packet using the target forwarding path.

A controller, applied to a system comprising the controller and a mesh network, the mesh network comprising a plurality of switches, and the controller comprising:

• a memory configured to store program instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, the program instructions causing the processor to be configured to:
• obtain a port attribute of each port of a first switch, the first switch comprising any switch in the mesh network, and the port attribute indicating that the port is a user-side port or a network-side port;
• determine, according to the port attribute of each port of the first switch, a virtual routing and forwarding instance corresponding to each port of the first switch, the user-side port and the network-side port corresponding to different virtual routing and forwarding instances, and all user-side ports of the first switch corresponding to a first virtual routing and forwarding instance;
• generate a forwarding table of the first switch according to a topology of the mesh network and the virtual routing and forwarding instance corresponding to each port of the first switch, a first forwarding entry of the forwarding table comprising the first virtual routing and forwarding instance, a first destination network segment corresponding to the first virtual routing and forwarding instance and at least two forwarding paths corresponding to the first destination network segment;
• and
• send the forwarding table to the first switch, the forwarding table enabling the first switch to select, according to a load balancing algorithm and the first forwarding entry and from the at least two forwarding paths corresponding to the first destination network segment, a target forwarding path for a packet corresponding to the first destination network segment.

A switch, applied to a system comprising a controller and a mesh network, the mesh network comprising a plurality of switches, the switch being any one of the switches, and the switch comprising:

• a memory configured to store program instructions;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory, the instructions causing the processor to be configured to:
• receive a forwarding table from the controller, the switch comprising a plurality of ports, the ports comprising a network-side port and a user-side port corresponding to different virtual routing and forwarding instances, a first forwarding entry of the forwarding table comprising a first virtual routing and forwarding instance, a first destination network segment corresponding to the first virtual routing and forwarding instance and at least two forwarding paths corresponding to the first destination network segment, and the first virtual routing and forwarding instance comprising a virtual routing and forwarding instance corresponding to all user-side ports of the switch;
• receive a packet;
• select, according to a load balancing algorithm and the first forwarding entry, a target forwarding path for the packet from the at least two forwarding paths corresponding to the first destination network segment;
• and
• forward, using the target forwarding path, the packet when a port receiving the packet corresponding to the first destination network segment comprises a user-side port.