Network resilience through multi-topology routing

Abstract

In this paper we propose the use of multi-topology (MT) routing for network resilience against link and node failures. We describe the multi-topologies by an n-dimensional vector of different link costs for all links in the network. It is the base for the calculation of n shortest path trees from any node to all other destinations, i.e. for n virtual routing topologies. We define the link costs in such a way that the routing topologies complement each other in the sense that at least one valid route remains in a single link or node failure scenario for each pair of nodes in at least one routing topology. In such a failure case, packets are rather deviated over the intact routing topology than discarded. The recovery speed of the presented mechanism is very fast and can be compared to fast rerouting mechanisms in MPLS, which reduce packet drops to a minimum. In contrast to MPLS, MT routing is still a pure IP-based solution that retains the scalability and the robustness of IP routing.