Dynamic forward information base prefix optimization
AssigneeArista Networks, Inc.
InventorLincoln Dale
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A network device includes a routing information base including a first plurality of entries, a forwarding information base including a second plurality of entries; a forwarding information base entry optimizer that programs the second plurality of entries of the forwarding information base using, at least in part, the first plurality of entries; and a network processor that forwards packets based on the second plurality of entries of the forwarding information base. The second plurality of entries is less than the first plurality of entries.
Claims20
A method for programming route prefixes in a forwarding information base of a network device, wherein the method comprises:
- identifying, by a forwarding information base entry optimizer, a new route prefix from a routing information base to be programmed into the forwarding information base;
- determining whether the forwarding information base includes an entry having a supernet route prefix that includes the new route prefix;
- in response to determining that the supernet route prefix includes the new route prefix, determining whether a next-hop of the supernet route prefix is different than a next-hop of the new route prefix;
- in response to determining that the next-hop of the supernet route prefix is different from the next-hop of the new route prefix, programming the new route prefix into the forwarding information base;
- and
- in response to determining that the next-hop of the supernet route prefix is the same as the next-hop of the new route prefix, associating the new route prefix with the supernet route prefix.
A network device, comprising:
- memory;
- and
- a processor, wherein the processor is configured to perform a method, the method comprising:
- identifying, by a forwarding information base entry optimizer, a new route prefix from a routing information base to be programmed into the forwarding information base;
- determining whether the forwarding information base includes an entry having a supernet route prefix that includes the new route prefix;
- in response to determining that the supernet route prefix includes the new route prefix, determining whether a next-hop of the supernet route prefix is different than a next-hop of the new route prefix;
- in response to determining that the next-hop of the supernet route prefix is different from the next-hop of the new route prefix, programming the new route prefix into the forwarding information base;
- and
- in response to determining that the next-hop of the supernet route prefix is the same as the next-hop of the new route prefix, associating the new route prefix with the supernet route prefix.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for programming route prefixes in a forwarding information base of a network device, the method comprising:
- identifying, by a forwarding information base entry optimizer, a new route prefix from a routing information base to be programmed into the forwarding information base;
- determining whether the forwarding information base includes an entry having a supernet route prefix that includes the new route prefix;
- in response to determining that the supernet route prefix includes the new route prefix, determining whether a next-hop of the supernet route prefix is different than a next-hop of the new route prefix;
- in response to determining that the next-hop of the supernet route prefix is different from the next-hop of the new route prefix, programming the new route prefix into the forwarding information base;
- and
- in response to determining that the next-hop of the supernet route prefix is the same as the next-hop of the new route prefix, associating the new route prefix with the supernet route prefix.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.