Achieving sub-second IGP convergence in large IP networks

François, Pierre [UCL] Filsfils, C Evans, J Bonaventure, Olivier [UCL]

We describe and analyse in details the various factors that influence the convergence time of intradomain link state routing protocols. This convergence time reflects the time required by a network to react to the failure of a link or a router. To characterise the convergence process, we first use detailed measurements to determine the time required to perform the various operations of a link state protocol on currently deployed routers. We then build a simulation model based on those measurements and use it to study the convergence time in large networks. Our measurements and simulations indicate that sub-second link-state IGP convergence can be easily met on an ISP network without any compromise on stability.