A method performed by an OpenFlow protocol based forwarding plane device, for timing processing of an OpenFlow protocol flow entry in a flow table in the forwarding plane device, comprising: receiving, by the forwarding plane device, a flow rule message sent by an OpenFlow protocol based control plane device, wherein the flow rule message comprises ineffective time of the flow entry and a time type identifier of the ineffective time; and if the time type identifier indicates that the ineffective time is an ineffective moment of the flow entry, performing, by the forwarding plane device, ineffectiveness processing on the flow entry according to the ineffective moment; wherein the flow rule message further comprises effective time of the flow entry, the effective time is an effective moment of the flow entry or effective duration of the flow entry, the effective duration is duration that is between a first moment and the effective moment and that is calculated by the control plane device, and the first moment is a moment prior to the effective moment; and before the performing ineffectiveness processing on the flow entry, the method further comprises: enabling the flow entry when the effective moment of the flow entry arrives, or when it is detected that the effective duration ends; and wherein if the time type identifier indicates that the ineffective time is second ineffective duration of the flow entry, performing ineffectiveness processing on the flow entry when detecting that the second ineffective duration ends, wherein the second ineffective duration is duration between the effective moment and the ineffective moment, or the second ineffective duration is duration between the first moment and the ineffective moment that is calculated by the control plane device. receiving, by the forwarding plane device, a flow rule message sent by an OpenFlow protocol based control plane device, wherein the flow rule message comprises ineffective time of the flow entry and a time type identifier of the ineffective time; and if the time type identifier indicates that the ineffective time is an ineffective moment of the flow entry, performing, by the forwarding plane device, ineffectiveness processing on the flow entry according to the ineffective moment; wherein the flow rule message further comprises effective time of the flow entry, the effective time is an effective moment of the flow entry or effective duration of the flow entry, the effective duration is duration that is between a first moment and the effective moment and that is calculated by the control plane device, and the first moment is a moment prior to the effective moment; and before the performing ineffectiveness processing on the flow entry, the method further comprises: enabling the flow entry when the effective moment of the flow entry arrives, or when it is detected that the effective duration ends; and wherein if the time type identifier indicates that the ineffective time is second ineffective duration of the flow entry, performing ineffectiveness processing on the flow entry when detecting that the second ineffective duration ends, wherein the second ineffective duration is duration between the effective moment and the ineffective moment, or the second ineffective duration is duration between the first moment and the ineffective moment that is calculated by the control plane device. enabling the flow entry when the effective moment of the flow entry arrives, or when it is detected that the effective duration ends; and wherein if the time type identifier indicates that the ineffective time is second ineffective duration of the flow entry, performing ineffectiveness processing on the flow entry when detecting that the second ineffective duration ends, wherein the second ineffective duration is duration between the effective moment and the ineffective moment, or the second ineffective duration is duration between the first moment and the ineffective moment that is calculated by the control plane device.