DISTRIBUTED BROADBAND NETWORK GATEWAY STATEFUL N+1 HOT-REDUNDANCY

In some implementations, a redundant DBNG user plane device may maintain respective subscriber states of a plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices. The redundant DBNG user plane device may determine, based on maintaining the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices, that a particular primary DBNG user plane device, of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices, is not active. The redundant DBNG user plane device may identify, based on determining that the particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active, a subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device. The redundant DBNG user plane device may operate, using the subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device, as an active DBNG user plane device for traffic associated with the particular primary DBNG user plane device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Patent Application claims priority to India patent application Ser. No. 20/234,1037762, filed on Jun. 1, 2023, and entitled “BROADBAND NETWORK GATEWAY CONTROL AND USER PLANE SEPARATION STATEFUL N+1 HOT-REDUNDANCY.” The disclosure of the prior Application is considered part of and is incorporated by reference into this Patent Application.

BACKGROUND

A broadband network gateway (BNG) routes traffic to and from broadband remote access devices, such as digital subscriber line access multiplexers (DSLAMs), on an Internet service provider (ISP) network. The BNG enables subscribers to connect to the broadband network, and performs authentication, authorization, and accounting; assigns Internet protocol (IP) addresses; and enforces quality of service (QOS) policies, among other examples.

SUMMARY

In some implementations, a method includes maintaining, by a redundant disaggregated broadband network gateway (DBNG) user plane device, respective subscriber states of a plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices; determining, by the redundant DBNG user plane device, and based on the maintaining the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices, that a particular primary DBNG user plane device, of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices, is not active; identifying, by the redundant DBNG user plane device and based on determining that the particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active, a subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device; and operating, by the redundant DBNG user plane device and using the subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device, as an active DBNG user plane device for traffic associated with the particular primary DBNG user plane device.

In some implementations, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions includes one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a redundant DBNG user plane device, cause the redundant DBNG user plane device to: maintain respective subscriber states of a plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices; determine, based on maintaining the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices, that a particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active; and operate, using a subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device, as an active DBNG user plane device for traffic associated with the particular primary DBNG user plane device.

In some implementations, a redundant DBNG user plane device includes one or more memories; and one or more processors to: maintain respective subscriber states of a plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices; determine, based on maintaining the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices, that a particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active; and operate, using a subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device, as an active DBNG user plane device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To accommodate growth in a quantity of subscribers, a quantity and types of services being provided by broadband network gateways (BNGs), and an amount of traffic being processed by the BNGs, a disaggregated BNG (DBNG) may be deployed by a service provider. The DBNG physically and logically provides control and user plane separation (CUPS). For example, software to perform control plane functions may be distributed for execution by a centralized control plane comprising one or more devices. Two or more user plane devices to implement multiple user planes, which may include physical network devices, remain in a forwarding path between subscriber devices and a network to process traffic (e.g., packet flows) between the subscriber devices and the network. In some cases, a user plane device can fail or otherwise cease to be active, which causes traffic handled by the user plane device to be delayed, lost, dropped, and/or otherwise not communicated. Accordingly, this negatively impacts a performance of the user plane and the DBNG.

In some cases, a 1:1 hot-redundancy can be used to provide a redundant user plane device for a primary user plane device, where the redundant user plane device is configured in a same or similar manner as the primary user plane device, and a state of the primary user plane device is regularly backed up to the redundant user plane. In this way, when the primary user plane device fails, the redundant user plane device can become active and process traffic with little disruption to subscriber devices. However, this approach leads to inefficient use of computing resources (e.g., processing resources, memory resources, communication resources, and/or power resources, among other examples) of the redundant user plane device (e.g., because the redundant user plane device does not process traffic while the primary user plane device is active) and is subject to scalability challenges (e.g., it is often impractical, in terms of deployment and maintenance, for every user plane device in a DBNG to be backed up by an individual redundant user plane device).

Some implementations described herein include a redundant disaggregated broadband network gateway (DBNG) user plane device. The redundant DBNG user plane device is configured to provide a stateful N+1 hot-redundancy. That is, the redundant DBNG user plane device maintains respective subscriber states of a plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices, and is able to quickly provide a switchover to operate as an active DBNG user plane device upon a primary DBNG user plane device ceasing to be active.

For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device may determine that a particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active, and may thereby identify a subscriber state (e.g., of a plurality of subscriber states maintained by the redundant DBNG user plane device) of the particular primary DBNG user plane device. The redundant DBNG user plane device then uses the subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane to operate as an active DBNG user plane device.

In some implementations, in a first type of the stateful N+1 hot-redundancy, the redundant DBNG user plane device maintains the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices in a forwarding module of the redundant DBNG user plane device. For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device may include a first portion of the subscriber state (e.g., a basic forwarding state) in a forwarding component of the forwarding module, and may include a second portion of the substate (e.g., a forwarding services state) in a memory component of the forwarding module. To operate as an active DBNG user plane device, the redundant DBNG user plane device installs the second portion of the subscriber state (e.g., the forwarding services state) of the particular primary DBNG user plane device (e.g., from the memory component) in the forwarding component of the forwarding module (e.g., to allow both the first portion of the subscriber state and the second portion of the subscriber state to be utilized by the forwarding component). In a second type of the stateful N+1 hot-redundancy, the redundant DBNG user plane device maintains the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices in a routing module (e.g., a memory component of the routing module) of the redundant DBNG user plane device. To operate as an active DBNG user plane device, the redundant DBNG user plane device installs the subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device (e.g., from the memory component of the routing module) in a forwarding component of the forwarding module of the redundant DBNG user plane device.

In this way, by employing the first type or the second type of the stateful N+1 hot-redundancy, the redundant DBNG user plane is able to operate as an active DBNG user plane device for traffic associated with any of the primary DBNG user plane devices that cease to be active. Accordingly, because the redundant DBNG user plane device can provide redundancy for multiple primary DBNG user plane devices, the stateful N+1 hot-redundancy approach enables a more efficient use of computing resources (e.g., processing resources, memory resources, communication resources, and/or power resources, among other examples) of the redundant DBNG user plane device, as compared to a 1:1 hot-redundancy approach (e.g., because the redundant DBNG user plane device is more likely to be acting as an active DBNG user plane device due to a greater likelihood that any one of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices is not active). Further, it is more practical to use a single redundant DBNG user plane device for multiple primary DBNG user plane devices, which makes the stateful N+1 hot-redundancy approach more scalable (e.g., in terms of deployment and maintenance) than the 1:1 hot-redundancy approach. Additionally, employing the first type of the stateful N+1 hot-redundancy reduces a likelihood that the traffic is delayed, lost, dropped, and/or otherwise not communicated (e.g., as a result of a primary DBNG user plane device ceasing to be active) because a first a portion of subscriber state of the primary DBNG user plane device is already installed in the forwarding component of the forwarding module of the redundant DBNG user plane device. Accordingly, this improves a performance of an associated user plane and the DBNG.

FIGS.1A-1Dare diagrams of an example implementation100associated with DBNG stateful N+1 hot-redundancy. As shown inFIGS.1A-1D, example implementation100includes a plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices (shown as primary DBNG user plane devices1through N, where N≥2), a DBNG control plane device, and a redundant DBNG user plane device (e.g., that are associated with a DBNG). These devices are described in more detail below in connection withFIGS.2-4.

In some implementations, as shown inFIGS.1A-1D, each primary DBNG user plane device may have a subscriber state (e.g., the primary DBNG user plane device1has a subscriber state1, and the primary DBNG user plane device N has a subscriber state N). A subscriber state may indicate information associated with subscribers of a primary DBNG user plane device and may indicate, for example, one or more dynamic interface states, one or more traffic detection and forwarding rules, one or more filtering rules, one or more service level agreement (SLA) rules, one or more statistics collection rules, one or more credit control rules, one or more traffic mirroring rules, one or more application aware policies, and/or one or more lawful interception rules. The subscriber state may include one or more states (e.g., sub-states), such as a basic forwarding state (e.g., that includes basic packet forwarding information) and/or a forwarding services state (e.g., that includes filters and/or policies, hardware queues, statistics counters, and/or the like).

FIGS.1A-1Bshow example operations that are associated with employment of a first type of the stateful N+1 hot-redundancy (e.g., for the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices).

As shown inFIG.1A, and by reference number102, the redundant DBNG user plane device may maintain respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices. In some implementations, the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices may communicate with the DBNG control plane device to obtain update information associated with the respective subscriber states (e.g., that indicates any changes to the respective subscriber states since previous update information was obtained). Additionally, the redundant DBNG user plane device may communicate with the DBNG control plane device to obtain the update information from the DBNG control plane device. Accordingly, the redundant DBNG user plane device may obtain the update information at a same time (e.g., in parallel) as the plurality primary DBNG user plane devices. The redundant DBNG user plane device then may store the update information (e.g., in a data structure), which allows the redundant DBNG user plane device to maintain the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices.

In a specific example (e.g., that is associated with employing the first type of stateful N+1 hot-redundancy), as further shown inFIG.1A, the redundant DBNG user plane device may maintain the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices in a forwarding module (e.g., a forwarding engine module, or a similar type of forwarding module) of the redundant DBNG user plane device. The redundant DBNG user plane device may include a first portion of the subscriber state (e.g., the basic forwarding state) in a forwarding component of the forwarding module, and may include a second portion of the substate (e.g., the forwarding services state) in a memory component of the forwarding module.

As shown inFIG.1B, and by reference number104, the redundant DBNG user plane device may determine (e.g., based on maintaining the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices) that a particular primary DBNG user plane device, of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices, is not active (e.g., because the particular primary DBNG user plane device has failed, is down due to maintenance, or is not active for another reason). As an example, as shown inFIG.1B, the redundant DBNG user plane device may determine that the primary DBNG user plane device1is not active.

In some implementations, the DBNG user plane device may monitor a link (e.g., a pseudowire or another type of link) that is associated with the particular primary DBNG user plane device (e.g., that is a backup link for traffic processed by the primary DBNG user plane device). For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device may monitor the link for activity information. Based on monitoring the link, the DBNG user plane device may determine that the particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active (e.g., due a lack of activity information provided via the link, or a change in status of the activity information). Additionally, or alternatively, the DBNG user plane device may communicate with the DBNG control plane device and may thereby determine (e.g., based on the DBNG control plane device providing information that the particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active) that the particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active.

As shown by reference number106, the redundant DBNG user plane device may identify a subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device (e.g., that is not active). For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device may identify the subscriber state in the forwarding module (e.g., in the memory component of the forwarding module) of the redundant DBNG user plane device.

As shown by reference number108, the redundant DBNG user plane device may operate, using the subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device (e.g., that is not active), as an active DBNG user plane device. For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device, using the subscriber state, may operate as an active DBNG user plane device for traffic that is associated with the particular primary DBNG user plane device (e.g., for traffic that would otherwise be processed by the particular primary DBNG user plane device if the primary DBNG user plane device were to be active).

In a specific example (e.g., that is associated with employing the first type of stateful N+1 hot-redundancy), as further shown inFIG.1B, to operate as an active DBNG user plane device, the redundant DBNG user plane device may utilize the subscriber state (shown as subscriber state1) of the particular primary DBNG user plane device in the forwarding module. For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device may install the second portion of the subscriber state (e.g., the forwarding services state) in the memory component in the forwarding component of the forwarding module. In this way, the subscriber state may be fully installed in the forwarding component (e.g., both the first portion and the second portion of the subscriber state are installed in the forwarding component). The redundant DBNG user plane device then may forward, using the forwarding module (e.g., using the forwarding component of the forwarding module), the traffic that is associated with the particular primary DBNG user plane device (e.g., that was previously handled by the particular primary DBNG user plane device). In some implementations, because the first portion of the subscriber state is already included in the forwarding component of the forwarding module and because the second portion of the subscriber state is installed from the memory component of the forwarding module in the forwarding component of the forwarding module, an amount of time for the redundant DBNG user plane device to operate as an active DBNG user plane device for the traffic (e.g., a switchover time) may be reduced (e.g., as compared to when non-hot redundancy is employed; or as compared to installing the subscriber state from another module of the redundant DBNG user plane device, such as when a second type of stateful N+1 hot-redundancy, described herein, is employed). For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device may use the first portion of the subscriber state (e.g., the basic forwarding state) immediately upon operating as an active DBNG user plane, and the redundant DBNG user plane device may use the second portion of the subscriber state (e.g., the forwarding services state) upon successful completion of installment in the forwarding component.

FIGS.1C-1Dshow example operations that are associated with employment of a second type of the stateful N+1 hot-redundancy (e.g., for the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices).

As shown inFIG.1C, and by reference number110, the redundant DBNG user plane device may maintain respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices (e.g., in a similar manner as that described herein in relation toFIG.1Aand reference number102). In a specific example (e.g., that is associated with employing the second type of stateful N+1 hot-redundancy), as further shown inFIG.1C, the redundant DBNG user plane device may maintain the respective subscriber states of the primary DBNG user plane devices in a routing module (e.g., a routing engine module, or a similar type of routing module) of the redundant DBNG user plane device, such as in a memory component of the routing module. In some implementations, because the memory component of the routing module of the redundant DBNG user plane device may be larger (e.g., in terms of data capacity) than the memory component of the forwarding module, the redundant DBNG user plane device may be able to maintain a greater quantity of subscriber states (and thus may be a redundant DBNG user plane device for a greater quantity of primary DBNG user plane devices) when employing the second type of stateful N+1 hot-redundancy, as compared to when employing the first type of stateful N+1 hot-redundancy.

As shown inFIG.1D, and by reference number112, the redundant DBNG user plane device may determine (e.g., based on maintaining the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices) that a particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active (e.g., because the primary DBNG user plane device has failed, is down due to maintenance, or is not active for another reason), such as in an similar manner as that described herein in relation toFIG.1Band reference number104. For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device may determine that a particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active by monitoring a link associated with the particular primary DBNG user plane device and/or by communicating with the DBNG control plane device.

As shown by reference number114, the redundant DBNG user plane device may identify a subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device (e.g., that is not active). For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device may identify the subscriber state in the routing module (e.g., in the memory component of the routing module) of the redundant DBNG user plane device. As shown, the subscriber state may include one or more states (e.g., sub-states), such as a basic forwarding state (e.g., that includes basic packet forwarding information) and/or a forwarding services state (e.g., that includes filters and/or policies, hardware queues, statistics counters, and/or the like).

As shown by reference number116, the redundant DBNG user plane device may operate, using the subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device (e.g., that is not active), as an active DBNG user plane device. For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device, using the subscriber state, may operate as an active DBNG user plane device for traffic that is associated with the particular primary DBNG user plane device (e.g., for traffic that would be processed by the particular primary DBNG user plane device if the primary DBNG user plane device were active).

In a specific example (e.g., that is associated with employing the second type of stateful N+1 hot-redundancy), as further shown inFIG.1D, to operate as an active DBNG user plane device, the redundant DBNG user plane device may install the subscriber state of the primary DBNG user plane device in the forwarding module of the redundant DBNG user plane device (e.g., by installing the subscriber state from the routing module, such as from the memory component of the routing module, in the forwarding component of the forwarding module). The redundant DBNG user plane device then may forward, using the forwarding module (e.g., using the forwarding component of the forwarding module), the traffic that is associated with the particular primary DBNG user plane device.

As indicated above,FIGS.1A-1Dare provided as an example. Other examples may differ from what is described with regard toFIGS.1A-1D. The number and arrangement of devices shown inFIGS.1A-1Dare provided as an example. In practice, there may be additional devices, fewer devices, different devices, or differently arranged devices than those shown inFIGS.1A-1D. Furthermore, two or more devices shown inFIGS.1A-1Dmay be implemented within a single device, or a single device shown inFIGS.1A-1Dmay be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) shown inFIGS.1A-1Dmay perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of devices shown inFIGS.1A-1D.

FIG.2is a diagram of an example environment200in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented. As shown inFIG.2, example environment200may include multiple primary DBNG user plane devices210, a DBNG control plane device220, and a redundant DBNG user plane device230. The DBNG control plane device220may interconnect with the primary DBNG user plane devices210and/or the redundant DBNG user plane device230via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections.

Primary DBNG user plane device210includes one or more devices capable of receiving, processing, storing, routing, and/or providing information associated with subscriber states and traffic (e.g., a packet and/or other information or metadata) in a manner described herein. For example, the primary DBNG user plane device210may include a router, such as a label switching router (LSR), a label edge router (LER), an ingress router, an egress router, a provider router (e.g., a provider edge router or a provider core router), a virtual router, or another type of router. Additionally, or alternatively, the primary DBNG user plane device210may include a gateway, a switch, a firewall, a hub, a bridge, a reverse proxy, a server (e.g., a proxy server, a cloud server, or a data center server), a load balancer, and/or a similar device. In some implementations, the primary DBNG user plane device210may be a physical device implemented within a housing, such as a chassis. In some implementations, the primary DBNG user plane device210may be a virtual device implemented by one or more computing devices of a cloud computing environment or a data center. The primary DBNG user plane device210may perform user plane functionality (e.g., primary user plane functionality) for a DBNG environment. In some implementations, the primary DBNG user plane device210may communicate with the DBNG control plane device220, as described herein.

DBNG control plane device220includes one or more devices capable of receiving, processing, storing, routing, and/or providing information associated with subscriber states in a manner described herein. For example, the DBNG control plane device220may include a router, such as an LSR, an LER, an ingress router, an egress router, a provider router (e.g., a provider edge router or a provider core router), a virtual router, or another type of router. Additionally, or alternatively, the DBNG control plane device220may include a gateway, a switch, a firewall, a hub, a bridge, a reverse proxy, a server (e.g., a proxy server, a cloud server, or a data center server), a load balancer, and/or a similar device. In some implementations, the DBNG control plane device220may be a physical device implemented within a housing, such as a chassis. In some implementations, the DBNG control plane device220may be a virtual device implemented by one or more computing devices of a cloud computing environment or a data center. The DBNG control plane device220may perform control plane functionality for a DBNG environment. In some implementations, the DBNG control plane device220may communicate with the primary DBNG user plane device210and the redundant DBNG user plane device230, as described herein.

Redundant DBNG user plane device230includes one or more devices capable of receiving, processing, storing, routing, and/or providing information associated with subscriber states and traffic (e.g., a packet and/or other information or metadata) in a manner described herein. For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device230may include a router, such as an LSR, an LER, an ingress router, an egress router, a provider router (e.g., a provider edge router or a provider core router), a virtual router, or another type of router. Additionally, or alternatively, the redundant DBNG user plane device230may include a gateway, a switch, a firewall, a hub, a bridge, a reverse proxy, a server (e.g., a proxy server, a cloud server, or a data center server), a load balancer, and/or a similar device. In some implementations, the redundant DBNG user plane device230may be a physical device implemented within a housing, such as a chassis. In some implementations, the redundant DBNG user plane device230may be a virtual device implemented by one or more computing devices of a cloud computing environment or a data center. The redundant DBNG user plane device230may perform user plane functionality (e.g., backup user plane functionality) for a DBNG environment. In some implementations, the redundant DBNG user plane device230may communicate with the DBNG control plane device220, as described herein.

FIG.3is a diagram of example components of a device300associated with DBNG stateful N+1 hot-redundancy. The device300may correspond to the primary DBNG user plane device210, the DBNG control plane device220, and/or the redundant DBNG user plane device230. In some implementations, the primary DBNG user plane device210, the DBNG control plane device220, and/or the redundant DBNG user plane device230may include one or more devices300and/or one or more components of the device300. As shown inFIG.3, the device300may include a bus310, a processor320, a memory330, an input component340, an output component350, and/or a communication component360.

The bus310may include one or more components that enable wired and/or wireless communication among the components of the device300. The bus310may couple together two or more components ofFIG.3, such as via operative coupling, communicative coupling, electronic coupling, and/or electric coupling. For example, the bus310may include an electrical connection (e.g., a wire, a trace, and/or a lead) and/or a wireless bus. The processor320may include a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, a field-programmable gate array, an application-specific integrated circuit, and/or another type of processing component. The processor320may be implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. In some implementations, the processor320may include one or more processors capable of being programmed to perform one or more operations or processes described elsewhere herein.

The memory330may include volatile and/or nonvolatile memory. For example, the memory330may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive, and/or another type of memory (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory). The memory330may include internal memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, or a hard disk drive) and/or removable memory (e.g., removable via a universal serial bus connection). The memory330may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The memory330may store information, one or more instructions, and/or software (e.g., one or more software applications) related to the operation of the device300. In some implementations, the memory330may include one or more memories that are coupled (e.g., communicatively coupled) to one or more processors (e.g., processor320), such as via the bus310. Communicative coupling between a processor320and a memory330may enable the processor320to read and/or process information stored in the memory330and/or to store information in the memory330.

The input component340may enable the device300to receive input, such as user input and/or sensed input. For example, the input component340may include a touch screen, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a microphone, a switch, a sensor, a global positioning system sensor, a global navigation satellite system sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and/or an actuator. The output component350may enable the device300to provide output, such as via a display, a speaker, and/or a light-emitting diode. The communication component360may enable the device300to communicate with other devices via a wired connection and/or a wireless connection. For example, the communication component360may include a receiver, a transmitter, a transceiver, a modem, a network interface card, and/or an antenna.

FIG.4is a diagram of example components of a device400associated with DBNG stateful N+1 hot-redundancy. Device400may correspond to the primary DBNG user plane device210, the DBNG control plane device220, and/or the redundant DBNG user plane device230. In some implementations, the primary DBNG user plane device210, the DBNG control plane device220, and/or the redundant DBNG user plane device230may include one or more devices400and/or one or more components of device400. As shown inFIG.4, device400may include one or more input components410-1through410-B (B≥1) (hereinafter referred to collectively as input components410, and individually as input component410), a switching component420, one or more output components430-1through430-C (C≥1) (hereinafter referred to collectively as output components430, and individually as output component430), and a controller440.

Input component410may be one or more points of attachment for physical links and may be one or more points of entry for incoming traffic, such as packets. Input component410may process incoming traffic, such as by performing data link layer encapsulation or decapsulation. In some implementations, input component410may transmit and/or receive packets. In some implementations, input component410may include an input line card that includes one or more packet processing components (e.g., in the form of integrated circuits), such as one or more interface cards (IFCs), packet forwarding components, line card controller components, input ports, processors, memories, and/or input queues. In some implementations, device400may include one or more input components410.

Switching component420may interconnect input components410with output components430. In some implementations, switching component420may be implemented via one or more crossbars, via busses, and/or with shared memories. The shared memories may act as temporary buffers to store packets from input components410before the packets are eventually scheduled for delivery to output components430. In some implementations, switching component420may enable input components410, output components430, and/or controller440to communicate with one another.

Output component430may store packets and may schedule packets for transmission on output physical links. Output component430may support data link layer encapsulation or decapsulation, and/or a variety of higher-level protocols. In some implementations, output component430may transmit packets and/or receive packets. In some implementations, output component430may include an output line card that includes one or more packet processing components (e.g., in the form of integrated circuits), such as one or more IFCs, packet forwarding components, line card controller components, output ports, processors, memories, and/or output queues. In some implementations, device400may include one or more output components430. In some implementations, input component410and output component430may be implemented by the same set of components (e.g., and input/output component may be a combination of input component410and output component430).

Controller440includes a processor in the form of, for example, a CPU, a graphics processing unit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/or another type of processor. The processor is implemented in hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. In some implementations, controller440may include one or more processors that can be programmed to perform a function.

In some implementations, controller440may include a RAM, a ROM, and/or another type of dynamic or static storage device (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, an optical memory, etc.) that stores information and/or instructions for use by controller440.

In some implementations, controller440may communicate with other devices, networks, and/or systems connected to device400to exchange information regarding network topology. Controller440may create routing tables based on the network topology information, may create forwarding tables based on the routing tables, and may forward the forwarding tables to input components410and/or output components430. Input components410and/or output components430may use the forwarding tables to perform route lookups for incoming and/or outgoing packets.

FIG.5is a flowchart of an example process500associated with DBNG stateful N+1 hot-redundancy. In some implementations, one or more process blocks ofFIG.5are performed by a redundant DBNG user plane device (e.g., the redundant DBNG user plane device230). In some implementations, one or more process blocks ofFIG.5are performed by another device or a group of devices separate from or including the redundant DBNG user plane device. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more process blocks ofFIG.5may be performed by one or more components of device300, such as processor320, memory330, input component340, output component350, and/or communication component360; one or more components of device400, such as input component410, switching component420, output component430, and/or controller440; and/or one or more components of another device.

As shown inFIG.5, process500may include maintaining respective subscriber states of a plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices (block510). For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device may maintain respective subscriber states of a plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices, as described above.

As further shown inFIG.5, process500may include determining that a particular primary DBNG user plane device, of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices, is not active (block520). For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device may determine that a particular primary DBNG user plane device, of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices, is not active, as described above.

As further shown inFIG.5, process500may include identifying a subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device (block530). For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device may identify a subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device, as described above.

As further shown inFIG.5, process500may include operating, using the subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device, as an active DBNG user plane device e (block540). For example, the redundant DBNG user plane device may operate, using the subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device, as an active DBNG user plane device (e.g., for traffic associated with the particular primary DBNG user plane device), as described above.

In a first implementation, the redundant DBNG user plane device maintains first portions of the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices in a forwarding component of a forwarding module of the redundant disaggregated DBNG user plane device and maintains second portions of the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices in a memory component of the forwarding module of the redundant disaggregated DBNG user plane device.

In a second implementation, alone or in combination with the first implementation, operating as an active DBNG user plane device comprises installing a second portion of the subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device from the memory component in the forwarding component of the forwarding module, and forwarding, using the forwarding component and based on installing the second portion of the subscriber state in the forwarding component, the traffic.

In a third implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second implementations, the redundant DBNG user plane device maintains the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices in a memory component of a routing module of the redundant DBNG user plane device.

In a fourth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third implementations, operating as an active DBNG user plane device comprises installing the subscriber state of the particular primary DBNG user plane device from the memory component of the routing module in a forwarding component of a forwarding module of the redundant DBNG user plane device, and forwarding, using the forwarding component and based on installing the subscriber state in the forwarding component, the traffic.

In a fifth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth implementations, determining that the particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active comprises monitoring a link associated with the particular primary DBNG user plane device for activity information, and determining, based on monitoring the link, that the particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active.

In a sixth implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth implementations, determining that the particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active comprises communicating with a DBNG control plane device that is associated with the redundant DBNG user plane device, and determining, based on communicating with the DBNG control plane device, that the particular primary DBNG user plane device is not active.

In a seventh implementation, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth implementations, maintaining the respective subscriber states of the plurality of primary DBNG user plane devices comprises communicating with a DBNG control plane device that is associated with the redundant DBNG user plane device to obtain update information associated with the respective subscriber states, and storing the update information in a data structure.

As used herein, traffic or content may include a set of packets. A packet may refer to a communication structure for communicating information, such as a protocol data unit (PDU), a service data unit (SDU), a network packet, a datagram, a segment, a message, a block, a frame (e.g., an Ethernet frame), a portion of any of the above, and/or another type of formatted or unformatted unit of data capable of being transmitted via a network.