Segment Routing
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Adnan PervaizSegment Routing
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Adnan PervaizSegment Routing is a new routing paradigm designed to enhance the
optimization, simplicity, and scalability of IP/MPLS-based networks. Segment
Routing utilizes source-based routing scheme where a network node steers a
packet based on a list of instructions carried in the packet header. These
segments specify the desired network path or tunnel, either strictly or
loosely, thereby removing the necessity for transit nodes to store and
manage this path or tunnel information.
Segment Routing Overview
In an IP/MPLS network, segments can denote network links, nodes, or
services. The path an IP packet takes through the network is akin to a car’s
driving route, which includes roads, intersections, and a destination. Here,
intersections symbolize network node segments, roads between
intersections represent link segments, and the destination signifies a
network service. Specifically, in an IP/MPLS transport network, a node
segment corresponds to an MPLS-enabled router, a link segment to the
connection between two adjacent routers, and a service segment to a
customer VPN service, such as a Layer 3 VPN or Layer 2 VPN.
Each segment in the network is represented by a Segment Identifier or SID.
The SIDs are encoded differently in IPv4 and IPv6 networks. In IPv4 networks,
the SID is encoded as a standard MPLS label and can be stacked as multiple
MPLS labels. In IPv6, the SID is encoded as a standard IPv6 address
associated with the segment. The SIDs can be stacked as multiple IPv6
addresses within the IPv6 Segment Routing Extension Header. The active
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segment is indicated by the IPv6 Destination Address (DA). As the packet is
forwarded along the path, a pointer helps copy the next segment in the stack
to the IPv6 Destination Address.
The segment value and type define the forwarding action for the router that
is processing the incoming packet. The SIDs within a Segment Routing
domain are normally advertised via OSPF or IS-IS protocol extensions for
Segment Routing. In advanced traffic engineering applications, the SIDs can
be advertised by BGP extensions or defined by a centralized controller and
then communicated to the edge routers using standard protocols such as
Path Computation Element Protocol (PCEP).
Benefits of SR
Segment Routing introduces source-based routing, where nodes choose
specific paths for packet forwarding by inserting an ordered list of segments.
This approach offers enhanced packet forwarding behavior, allowing
networks to transport packets through tailored paths based on application
requirements. Moreover, SR seamlessly integrates with existing MPLS
infrastructure, making it suitable for brownfield deployments and SDN-ready
networks.
Service Provider Segment Routing Use Cases
- Improved Analytics
- On-Demand Services
- Disjoint Path services
- Simplified provisioning
- Improved TE
Segment Routing Forwarding Plane.
When an IP packet is inserted into an SR domain, the first router adds a
segment, or a list of segments based on the destination address and the
local routing policy. The IP packet is then forwarded within the SR domain
based on the type and value of the SR segment and the routing algorithm.
The default routing algorithm within the SR domain is based on IGP ECMP-
aware shortest path algorithm.
Segment Routing Control Plane
IGP protocols running between adjacent routers maintain session information
and advertise IP Prefixes to enable routers to build a complete network
topology. In addition, IGP protocols run the Shortest Path Algorithm on each
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router to determine the best route for each destination and then populate
these routes in the routing table
Segment Routing for IPV6
SR over IPv6 comes in two variants SRm6 and SRv6 both of which share
many of the same benefits but there are some below interesting features.
- The 128-bit address space supported by IPv6 provides approximately
3.4x1038 addresses, more than enough to support the massive growth
in network-attached devices.
- SRv6 and SRm6 use IPv6 extension headers to directly include IPv6-
based segment IDs (SIDs) into the IPv6 packet. This implies that
separate
- tunneling protocols such as L2TP, GRE, and even MPLS can be
eliminated from the network, simplifying overall network operations
and maintenance.
- One of the most intriguing aspects of utilizing IPv6 is its capacity to
unlock a wide array of network applications through a concept known
as “network programming” or “network engineering.”
There are differences in comparing SR-MPLS with SRm6 and SRv6 as
depicted below.
Segment Routing is an advanced approach to IP routing that allows
routers to embed routing instructions directly within IP packets, enabling
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precise control over their path through the network. These instructions
are carried as segments, which can represent specific nodes, links, or
services. By utilizing the established packet forwarding mechanisms of
MPLS and IPv6, Segment Routing streamlines the control plane. This is
achieved by integrating label signaling with IGP link and route
advertisements, eliminating the complexity and scalability issues
associated with traditional path setup and label distribution protocols such
as LDP and RSVP-TE.
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