Layer 2 Circuit Bandwidth Accounting and Call Admission Control
The sections that follow discuss Layer 2 circuit bandwidth accounting and call admission control (CAC):
Bandwidth Accounting and Call Admission Control Overview
Some network environments require that a certain level of service be guaranteed across the entire length of a path transiting a service provider’s network. For Layer 2 circuits transiting an MPLS core network, a customer requirement might be to assure that guarantees for bandwidth and class of service (CoS) be maintained across the core network. For example, an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) circuit can provide service guarantees for each traffic class. A Layer 2 circuit configured to transport that ATM circuit across the network could be expected to provide the same service guarantees.
Providing this type of service guarantee requires the following:
The LSPs in the MPLS core network must be able to provide service guarantees for bandwidth, rerouting, and route failures. You accomplish these guarantees by configuring multiclass LSPs. For more information about multiclass LSPs, see Configuring Multiclass LSPs.
The service guarantee must be maintained across the entire length of the link as it transits the service provider’s network. Different Layer 2 circuits could have different bandwidth requirements. However, many Layer 2 circuits could be transported over the same E-LSP in the MPLS core network.
CAC ensures that the LSP has sufficient bandwidth to accommodate the Layer 2 circuit. If there is not enough bandwidth over a particular LSP, the Layer 2 circuit is prevented from using that LSP.
Selecting an LSP Based on the Bandwidth Constraint
CAC of Layer 2 circuits is based on the bandwidth constraint. You must configure this constraint for each Layer 2 circuit interface. If there is a bandwidth constraint configured for a Layer 2 circuit, CAC bases the final selection of which LSP-forwarding next hop to use on the following:
If multiple LSPs meet the bandwidth requirements, the first LSP found that can satisfy the bandwidth requirements for the Layer 2 circuit is selected.
If there is more than one next hop mapped to the same LSP, then all the next hops that map to that LSP and pass CAC constraints are installed. This allows the Layer 2 circuit routes to restore themselves quickly in case of failure.
The available bandwidth on the selected LSP is decremented by the bandwidth required for each Layer 2 circuit. Similarly, when the Layer 2 circuit route is changed or deleted (for example, when the route is disassociated from that particular LSP), the bandwidth on the corresponding LSP is incremented.
There are no priorities among different Layer 2 circuits competing for the same LSP next hop in the core network.
When an LSP’s bandwidth changes, the Layer 2 circuits using that LSP repeat the CAC process again.
If the LSP bandwidth increases, some Layer 2 circuits that were not established might now successfully resolve over the LSP. Similarly, if the bandwidth of the LSP decreases, some Layer 2 circuits that were previously up might now be declared down because of insufficient bandwidth on the LSP.
When no LSP is found to meet the bandwidth requirements of the Layer 2 circuit, it is considered to be a CAC failure, and an error is reported.
LSP Path Protection and CAC
CAC can take into account LSPs that have been configured with an MPLS path protection feature, such as secondary paths, fast reroute, or node and link protection. CAC can consider the bandwidth available on these auxiliary links and can accept the backup connection as valid if the main connection fails. However, there are limitations on how the path protection feature must be configured to prevent CAC from taking down the Layer 2 circuit when the LSP it is using is switched to a backup route.
For more information about MPLS path protection features, see the MPLS and Traffic Protection.
The sections that follow discuss the path protection features that can be used in conjunction with CAC and how they must be configured:
Secondary Paths and CAC
The following describes the ways in which secondary paths would interact with Layer 2 circuit CAC:
If an LSP is configured with both primary and secondary paths, if the paths have the same bandwidth, and if this bandwidth is enough to accommodate the Layer 2 circuit, the Layer 2 circuit route installs both next hops in the forwarding table.
CAC allows the Layer 2 circuit to be switched to the secondary path if the primary path fails.
If the LSP has primary and secondary paths configured with different bandwidths, each path must run through CAC independently. If the active path for that LSP passes CAC constraints successfully, then that next hop is installed and the corresponding LSP is selected to transport the Layer 2 circuit traffic. The LSP’s secondary paths are then checked for CAC, and installed if there is sufficient bandwidth.
However, if the active path for the LSP fails to meet the CAC constraints, then that LSP is not selected and the system looks for a different LSP to transport the Layer 2 circuit.
For example, an LSP has an active primary path with 30 megabits of bandwidth and a secondary path with 10 megabits of bandwidth. The Layer 2 circuit requires 15 megabits of bandwidth. The secondary path fails CAC, and only the next hop corresponding to the primary path is installed for the Layer 2 circuit route. The path protection originally provided by the secondary path is no longer available.
Fast Reroute and CAC
No CAC is done for fast reroute detours. However, as long as the protected path satisfies the CAC bandwidth constraints, the detour next hop is also selected and installed.
Link and Node Protection and CAC
You can configure CAC on Layer 2 circuit-based LSPs with bandwidth constraints and also enable link and node protection. However, if the primary LSP fails, CAC might not be applied to the bypass LSP, meaning the bypass LSP might not meet the bandwidth constraint for the Layer 2 circuit. To minimize the risk of loosing traffic, the Layer 2 circuit continues to use the non-CAC bypass LSP while an attempt is made to establish a new Layer 2 circuit route over an LSP that does support CAC.
Layer 2 Circuits Trunk Mode
Using Layer 2 circuit trunk mode, you can configure Layer 2 circuits to carry ATM trunks, providing a way to link ATM switches over an MPLS core network.
Layer 2 circuit trunk mode allows you to configure the following CoS features:
CoS queues in Layer 2 circuit trunk mode—For ATM2 IQ interfaces, you can configure ATM CoS queues for Layer 2 circuit trunk mode.
Layer 2 circuit trunk mode scheduling—For ATM2 IQ interfaces configured to use Layer 2 circuit trunk mode, you can share a scheduler among 32 trunks on an ATM port.
Two early packet discard (EPD) thresholds per queue—For ATM2 IQ interfaces configured to use Layer 2 circuit trunk mode, you can set two EPD thresholds that depend on the packet-loss priorities (PLPs) of the packets.
For a detailed overview and configuration documentation, see the ATM Interfaces User Guide for Routing Devices and Class of Service User Guide (Routers and EX9200 Switches).