Segment Routing

Segment Routing 1 Segment Routing

1 Segment Routing

Definition
Segment Routing (SR) is a protocol designed to forward data packets on a network based on
source routes.
Segment Routing divides a network path into several segments and assigns a segment ID
(SID) to each segment and forwarding node. The segments and nodes are sequentially
arranged into a segment list to form a forwarding path.
Segment Routing is divided into two types based on the forwarding plane. Segment Routing
MPLS (SR MPLS for short) is based on the MPLS forwarding plane, whereas Segment
Routing IPv6 (SRv6 for short) is based on the IPv6 forwarding plane.
This document focuses on Segment Routing MPLS (hereinafter referred to as Segment
Routing).

Background of Segment Routing

Currently, networks that need to adapt to services are evolving towards service-driven
networks. Network adaptation to services refers to reactive adjustments of the network
architecture and configurations based on service requirements. This model does not match the
rapid development of services. Moreover, it makes network deployment more complex and
network maintenance more difficult.
Figure 1-1 shows a service-driven network where explicit paths are calculated based on the
requirements of applications. The network is dynamically adjusted in real time to rapidly meet
service change requirements.

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Figure 1-1 Service-driven network

Segment Routing Fundamentals

Segment Routing involves the following concepts:

Segment Routing domain: a set of Segment Routing nodes.

SID: unique identifier of a segment. A SID is mapped to an MPLS label on the forwarding
plane.

Segment Routing global block (SRGB): a set of local labels reserved for Segment Routing.

Table 1-1 describes different types of segments.

Table 1-1 Segment classification

Label Generation Function

Method

Prefix Manually Identifies the prefix of a destination address.

segment configured An IGP propagates the prefix segment of an NE to the other
NEs. The prefix segment is visible and takes effect globally.
Each prefix segment is identified by a prefix SID. A prefix
SID is an offset value within the SRGB range and advertised
by a source node. The receive end uses the local SRGB to
compute label values and then generates MPLS forwarding
entries.

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Label Generation Function

Method

Adjacency Dynamically Identifies an adjacency on a network.

segment allocated by An IGP propagates the adjacency segment of an NE to the
the ingress other NEs. The adjacency segment is visible globally but
through a takes effect locally.
protocol or
manually Each adjacency segment is identified by an adjacency SID.
configured The adjacency SID is a local SID that is outside of the SRGB
range.

Node Manually Identifies a specific node. Node segments are special prefix
segment configured segments. When an IP address is configured as a prefix for a
loopback interface of a node, the prefix SID is the node SID.

Figure 1-2 shows prefix, adjacency, and node SID examples.

Figure 1-2 Prefix, adjacency, and node SID examples

In plain terms, a prefix segment indicates a destination address, and an adjacency segment
indicates a link for outgoing data packets. The prefix and adjacency segments are similar to
the destination IP address and outbound interface in conventional IP forwarding, respectively.
In an IGP area, an NE propagates its node SID and adjacency SID through extended IGP
messages, so that any NE in the area can obtain information about the other NEs.

Combining prefix (node) and adjacency SIDs in sequence can construct any network path.
Every hop on a path identifies a next hop, which is based on the segment information on the
top of the label stack. The segment information is stacked in sequence at the top of the data
header. If the top SID identifies another node, the receive end forwards the received data
packet to that node through equal-cost multi-path routing (ECMP). If the top SID identifies
the local node, the receive end removes the top SID and proceeds with the following
procedure.

Prefix, adjacency, and node segments can be used independently or in combinations. They are
mainly used in the following three modes:

1. Prefix segment-based mode: An IGP uses the shortest path first (SPF) algorithm to
compute the shortest path. This mode is also called Segment Routing-Best Effort (SR-BE).

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As shown in Figure 1-3, node Z is connected to the destination network with a prefix SID of
68. After an IGP propagates the prefix SID, each node in the IGP area learns the prefix SID of
the network from node Z and then runs SPF to compute the shortest path to the network.

Figure 1-3 Prefix segment-based forwarding path

2. Adjacency segment-based mode: As shown in Figure 1-4, an adjacency segment is

allocated to each adjacency on the network, and a segment list with multiple adjacency
segments is defined on the ingress, so that any strict explicit path can be specified. In this
mode, path adjustment and traffic optimization can be implemented in a centralized manner,
facilitating software-defined networking (SDN) implementation. This mode is mainly used
for Segment Routing-Traffic Engineering (SR-TE).

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Figure 1-4 Adjacency segment-based forwarding path

3. Mode in which adjacency and node segments are combined: As shown in Figure 1-5,
adjacency and node segments are combined, and the adjacency segment allows a path to
forcibly include a specified adjacency. Nodes can run SPF to compute the shortest path based
on node segments or establish multiple paths to load-balance traffic. The paths computed in
this mode are not strictly fixed. Therefore, they are also called loose explicit paths. This mode
is mainly used for SR-TE.

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Figure 1-5 Adjacency segment- and node segment-based forwarding path

SR-BE Tunnel Establishment

A forwarding path established using SR-BE technology is an LSP without a tunnel interface.
This type of LSP is called SR LSP for short. The establishment and data forwarding of SR
LSPs are similar to those of LDP LSPs.
Figure 1-6 shows how an SR LSP is established.

Figure 1-6 SR LSP establishment

The establishment procedure is as follows:

1. Manual configuration: The prefix SID and SRGB are manually configured on the desired
NE and then propagated through an IGP packet.
2. Label distribution: Each NE parses the received IGP packet and computes a label value
by summing up the start value in the local SRGB range and the prefix SID. In addition,

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each NE computes an outgoing label value by summing up the start value in the next-hop
SRGB range and the prefix SID.
3. Path computation: Based on IGP-collected topology information, the NEs use the same
SPF algorithm to compute a label forwarding path and then generate a forwarding entry.
Similar to traffic forwarding over MPLS LDP LSPs, traffic forwarding over SR LSPs
also involves push, swap, and pop operations on label stacks and supports penultimate
hop popping (PHP), MPLS QoS, and other features.

SR-TE Tunnel Establishment

SR-TE is a new TE tunnel technology that uses Segment Routing as a control protocol. A
tunnel established using SR-TE is called an SR-TE tunnel.
SR-TE tunnels support the attributes of MPLS TE tunnels. In addition, they support
bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD).
SR-TE tunnels can be manually configured. Manual configuration is suitable for small-scale
networks because it does not require the cooperation of a controller. However, this method
does not support bandwidth reservation. In addition to manual configuration, another way to
generate an SR-TE tunnel is to run the Constrained Shortest Path First (CSPF) algorithm for
path computation on the ingress. Although this way supports bandwidth reservation, the
computed path is only locally optimal. SR-TE tunnels can also be generated by using a
controller for path computation, as shown in Figure 1-7.

Figure 1-7 SR-TE tunnel establishment

The establishment procedure is as follows:

1. Manual configuration: Configure IGP SR on forwarders to generate link topology and
label information.
2. Topology and label information reporting: BGP-LS reports the information to the
controller.
3. Link generation: PCEP computes a label forwarding path.
4. Information delivery: Tunnel attributes and LSP information are delivered by
NETCONF and PCEP, respectively.

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5. Tunnel creation: An SR-TE tunnel is automatically created between PEs based on tunnel
attributes and LSP information.
An SR-TE tunnel generated by a controller has the following advantages:
l The controller supports bandwidth computation and resource reservation, and can
therefore compute a globally optimal path.
l The controller can cooperate with network applications. Upon receipt of an application-
generated requirement, the controller can quickly respond to the requirement and
compute a network forwarding path that meets the requirement, helping achieve a
service-driven network.
l The controller does not require a lot of manual tunnel configurations, making this
method more suitable for large-scale networks.

Segment Routing TI-LFA FRR

Traditional Loop-Free Alternate (LFA) and remote LFA (RLFA) technologies have constraints
on the network topology and therefore cannot achieve 100% fault protection. This document
uses RLFA as an example to describe the differences between RLFA and Topology-
Independent Loop-Free Alternate (TI-LFA).
If RLFA is used and the link between B and E is faulty, B forwards data packets to C. Because
the cost between C and D is 1000, C considers that the optimal path to F passes through B. As
a result, the packets are forwarded back to B, causing a loop and forwarding failure.

Figure 1-8 RLFA

If TI-LFA is used and the link between B and E is faulty, B directly uses TI-LFA FRR backup
entries to add new path information (node SID of C and adjacency SID for C-to-D) to the data
packets to ensure that the packets can be forwarded along the backup path.

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Figure 1-9 TI-LFA

TI-LFA establishes a backup path over an explicit path without topology constraints,
theoretically achieving 100% FRR protection.

Segment Routing Advantages

Segment Routing has the following advantages:
1. Simplified MPLS control plane: Segment Routing does not require LDP or RSVP-TE
deployment. Instead, it uses an IGP to distribute labels and compute paths, without changing
the existing MPLS forwarding architecture. Table 1-2 compares Segment Routing with
MPLS.

Table 1-2 Comparison between Segment Routing and MPLS

Item Segment Routing MPLS

Control protocol IGP LDP/RSVP-TE/BGP/IGP

Label distribution A label is allocated to each The number of labels to be

adjacency or node, and the distributed increases with
number of labels to be the number of tunnels,
distributed is independent of requiring a large number of
the number of tunnels, resources.
reducing the number of
required resources.

Path adjustment and control The ingress performs re- Configurations need to be
computation to complete delivered node by node for
path adjustment and control. path adjustment and control.

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2. Simplified TE technology and improved capacity expansion capability: MPLS TE is a

connection-oriented technology. To maintain the connection status, nodes need to exchange a
large number of refresh packets. This increases the control plane load.
Segment Routing controls service paths only through label operations on the ingress. It does
not require transit nodes to maintain path information, reducing the control plane load.
MPLS TE and Segment Routing need to maintain different numbers of connection states.
l For MPLS TE, the number of connection states to be maintained is directly proportional
to the number of TE tunnels. That is, the number of connection states to be maintained is
equal to the number of nodes raised to the power of 2.
l For Segment Routing, the ingress maintains tunnel status. The number of connection
states to be maintained is equal to the sum of the number of nodes and the number of
connections.

3. Smoother network evolution to SDN

l Existing protocols are extended, enabling the network to smoothly evolve.
l The ingress controls and adjusts service paths through the source routing technology,
enabling the network to quickly respond to the requirements of upper-layer applications.
l Balancing centralized control and distributed control/forwarding prevents controller
performance from becoming a service bottleneck.

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Segment Routing Applications

After SR tunnels are established, service traffic needs to be steered to the tunnels. This
process is called traffic steering. Because SR-BE tunnels do not have tunnel interfaces, the
traffic steering mode of SR-BE is different from that of SR-TE.
SR-BE supports the following traffic steering modes:
l Tunnel policy: Use a tunnel type prioritizing policy to select SR-BE tunnels.
l Static route: When configuring a static route, specify the next hop as the destination
address of an SR-BE tunnel and configure the route to recurse to the SR-BE tunnel based
on the next hop.
l IP route recursion to tunnels: Configure a public IP route, such as a BGP route, to
recurse to an SR-BE tunnel based on the next hop of the route.
SR-TE supports the following traffic steering modes:
l Tunnel policy: Use a tunnel type prioritizing policy to select SR-TE tunnels or a tunnel
binding policy to bind SR-TE tunnels.
l Static route: When configuring a static route, specify the outbound interface of the route
as an SR-TE tunnel interface.
l Auto route: An IGP uses an auto route related to an SR-TE tunnel functioning as a
logical link to compute a path. The outbound interface of the route is used as an SR-TE
tunnel interface.
l Policy-based routing: The outbound interface in an apply clause is used as an SR-TE
tunnel interface.

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Figure 1-10 Traffic steering modes

Routes and services that can recurse to SR tunnels include static routes, BGP public network
routes, and L3VPN, VPLS, VPWS, and EVPN services.

References
For details about Segment Routing and how to configure Segment Routing, see New IP
Technologies.

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