Summarizes the routing, traffic-engineering, VPN, service-chaining, monitoring, programmability, and assurance capabilities available for deploying uSIDs in underlay and overlay networks.
This table categorizes key SRv6 features and functionalities into the underlay and the overlay.
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Underlay: Represents the foundational network infrastructure responsible for basic IP reachability, routing, and transport mechanisms that enable segment routing. It includes elements such as SRv6 locators, flexible algorithms, and protocols that ensure efficient path computation and traffic engineering at the network core. Additionally, the underlay supports performance monitoring capabilities that measure network health and transport metrics such as latency, loss, and liveness to ensure reliable and resilient connectivity.
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Overlay: Builds upon the underlay to provide advanced services and programmability, including VPN services, service chaining, and application-specific traffic steering. It leverages the underlay’s capabilities to deliver scalable, flexible, and programmable network services that meet modern operational requirements such as network slicing and service assurance. The overlay also benefits from unified visibility and assurance tools that correlate overlay service performance with underlay metrics, enabling comprehensive monitoring and SLA compliance.
This segregation helps clarify the roles and interactions of various SRv6 components, facilitating better network design, deployment, and management by distinguishing between transport infrastructure and service-level programmability.
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Supported uSID features |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Underlay |
|
| SRv6 Locators |
SRv6 locators are fundamental IPv6 address prefixes that define the address space for Segment Identifiers (SIDs) within an SRv6 network. They are crucial for enabling efficient routing and precise traffic steering. |
| Implementing SRv6 Flexible Algorithms |
SRv6 flexible algorithms (Flex-Algo) empower network operators to define routing behaviors tailored to specific operational requirements. Flex-Algo enables precise path computation beyond traditional shortest-path routing, allowing for customized traffic engineering, network slicing, and transport SLA assurance. |
| Path Computation Element Protocol |
Path Computation Element Protocol (PCEP) facilitates centralized management and dynamic optimization of SR paths. PCEP enables Path Computation Clients (PCCs) to communicate with Path Computation Elements (PCEs) for path computation, delegation, and real-time adjustments. It is used to enhance network efficiency, flexibility, and resilience by supporting advanced traffic engineering constraints and ensuring secure control plane communications. |
| Traffic Engineering in IPv6 Networks Using SRv6-TE |
Segment Routing over IPv6 traffic engineering (SRv6-TE) provides granular control and flexibility in managing network traffic. SRv6-TE enables administrators to steer traffic across IPv6 networks according to specific policies and requirements, facilitating explicit path creation for applications demanding particular QoS levels. It is used to enhance scalability, reduce complexity, optimize resource utilization, and integrate seamlessly with existing IPv6 infrastructure. |
| SRv6-MPLS L3 Service Interworking Gateways |
When bridging SRv6 and MPLS domains, the SRv6 side will often use uSIDs for its service and transport SIDs. The interworking gateway needs to correctly interpret and translate these uSIDs to their MPLS equivalents or other SRv6 formats. |
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Overlay |
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| SRv6 Layer 3 VPN Services and Global Routing |
SRv6 enables scalable, flexible, and programmable Layer 3 VPN (L3VPN) and global routing services, which are essential for modern network traffic engineering and service delivery. |
| Advanced SRv6 Layer 3 features |
Advanced SRv6 Layer 3 features provide the agility and efficiency required by modern networks. Specialized mechanisms offer advanced functionalities to optimize resource utilization and streamline traffic management across complex network segments. These capabilities are used to enhance network visibility and diagnostics, supporting adaptable, resilient, and future-proof deployments. |
| SRv6-Based Layer 2 and Integrated VPN Services |
SRv6-based Layer 2 and integrated VPN services provide flexible, scalable, and resilient solutions for modern network demands. |
|
Monitoring |
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| SRv6 Network Performance Measurement |
Tools like liveness monitoring, delay measurement, and path tracing operate by sending probes along SRv6 paths. If these paths are constructed using uSIDs, the performance measurement mechanisms must be designed to correctly interpret and traverse these uSID-based paths to gather accurate metrics. |
| SRv6 Traffic Accounting |
Traffic accounting tracks data flow over SRv6 paths. If the network utilizes uSIDs for its segment routing, the accounting system needs to correctly attribute traffic to these uSIDs and their associated locators to provide granular insights into resource consumption and traffic patterns. |