Outer Multicast IP Address Assignment Method and Apparatus

An outer multicast Internet Protocol (IP) address assignment method applied to a Virtual Extensible Local Area Network (VXLAN) and implemented by a first switch, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving a multicast response message from a server coupled to the first switch, wherein the multicast response message is based on a multicast query message from a multicast source, wherein the multicast response message comprises an inner multicast IP address, wherein the inner multicast IP address is a multicast IP address that is assigned by the multicast source to a multicast service, and wherein the VXLAN comprises a plurality of switches comprising the first switch;
• obtaining, from the multicast response message, the inner multicast IP address;
• sending, to a multicast IP address assignment apparatus, the inner multicast IP address;
• and
• receiving, from the multicast IP address assignment apparatus, an IP address indication message from the multicast IP address assignment apparatus, wherein the IP address indication message comprises an outer multicast IP address and the inner multicast IP address, and wherein the outer multicast IP address is determined by the multicast IP address assignment apparatus based on the inner multicast IP address.

A multicast Internet Protocol (IP) address assignment apparatus, applied to a Virtual Extensible Local Area Network (VXLAN), comprising:

• a receiver configured to receive an inner multicast IP address from a first switch in the VXLAN, wherein the inner multicast IP address is a multicast IP address assigned to a multicast service;
• a, processor coupled to the receiver and configured to determine an outer multicast IP address that corresponds to the inner multicast IP address, wherein the outer multicast IP address identifies the multicast service in the VXLAN;
• and
• a transmitter coupled to the receiver and the processor and configured to send an IP address indication message to the first switch, wherein the IP address indication message comprises the outer multicast IP address and the inner multicast IP address.

A switch applied to a Virtual Extensible Local Network Area (VXLAN), wherein the switch comprises:

• a receiver, configured to:
• receive a multicast response message from a server connected to the switch, wherein the multicast response message is based on a multicast query message from a multicast source, wherein the multicast response message comprises an inner multicast IP address, and wherein the inner multicast IP address is a multicast IP address of a multicast service;
• and
• receive an IP address indication message from a multicast IP address assignment apparatus, wherein the IP address indication message comprises an outer multicast IP address and the inner multicast IP address;
• a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to obtain the inner multicast IP address from the multicast response message;
• and
• a transmitter coupled to the receiver and the processor and configured to send the inner multicast IP address to the multicast IP address assignment apparatus.