Routing protocol interface for generalized data distribution

摘要

In general, techniques are described for defining an interface to a network router software infrastructure that allows developers to dynamically extend a routing protocol executed by the network router to distribute data throughout the routing domain for use with custom applications. In some examples, a routing protocol process executing on a control plane of a network device may expose an interface, such as an Application Programming Interface (API), that defines methods and parameters for extending the operation of a routing protocol executed by the routing protocol process. Third-party developers may then build custom applications that invoke the interface of the routing protocol process to define new routing protocol messages or message payloads, inject application-specific data into the routing protocol process for distribution within the newly defined messages/payloads, and extract application-specific data that is carried by newly defined messages/payloads that are originated by another network device in the routing domain.

主权项

1. A network device comprising:
a control unit comprising one or more processors; one or more interface cards; a routing protocol process configured to execute on the control unit to send a first routing protocol advertisement to a peer network device via the interface cards in accordance with a routing protocol, wherein the first routing protocol advertisement specifies a route to a network address and a predefined address family identifier that identifies a network layer protocol associated with the network address, an application configured to execute on the control unit; address family configuration data, wherein the routing protocol process is configured to receive, from the application via an interface of the routing protocol process, a request to dynamically extend the routing protocol process to register a new address family identifier for the routing protocol, wherein the new address family identifier is associated with the application, wherein the routing protocol process is configured to register, in response to the request, the new address family identifier in the address family configuration data, and wherein the routing protocol process is configured to send, to the peer network device in response to receiving application data from the application via the interface, a second routing protocol advertisement that specifies the new address family identifier and includes the application data.