Diverse Path Design
Use the diverse path design feature to automatically configure a tunnel to have its secondary or standby paths diverse from its primary path. You can also design two different tunnels to have diverse primary paths.
From the Juniper NorthStar Planner window, select Application > Path Design. The Diverse Path Design window is displayed as shown in Figure 1. To filter the display, select All, DivGroup, or Secondary/Standby from the toolbar drop-down menu.
To start a diversity design, select the tunnels to design and select Design > All Paths or Design > Selected Paths. The Designing Tunnels window is displayed as shown in Figure 2.
Table 1 describes the basic options available in the Designing Tunnels window.
Table 1: Designing Tunnels Window Basic Options
Option | Description |
|---|---|
Primary Path | Set the primary path to be explicit (Explicit) or dynamic (Dynamic). |
Backup Path #1 | Set the first backup path to be explicit or dynamic. Set the first backup path type to be standby or secondary. Enable the system to add new backup paths (Add if missing) or only modify existing backup paths (Change only existing backup). |
Backup Path #2 | Set the second backup path to be explicit or dynamic. Set the second backup path type to be standby or secondary. Enable the system to add new backup paths (Add if missing) or only modify existing backup paths (Change only existing backup). |
Preserve standby/secondary settings of existing tunnels | Select this option to prevent existing backup paths from changing from secondary to standby or standby to secondary. |
Default Diversity Level | Set the default level of path diversity as Site (default), Link, or SRLG/Facility. |
Evaluate/Design Options | Select Evaluate to evaluate the diversity level without making any path design modifications. Select Incremental to design the diversity level without recalculating existing paths that have explicit routes. Select Redesign to design the diversity level and recalculate paths that have explicit routes. |
To set advanced diversity design options, select the Advanced Options tab. The Designing Tunnels window Advanced Options tab is displayed as shown in Figure 3.
Table 2 lists the advanced options available in the Designing Tunnels window.
Table 2: Designing Tunnels Window Advanced Options
Option | Description |
|---|---|
Backup Path Bandwidth | Set the backup path bandwidth as a percentage of the primary path bandwidth plus a fixed bandwidth specified as bits. |
Preserve existing backup BW | Select to preserve the backup bandwidth for existing paths, and only design bandwidth for backup paths that are added. |
Link Reservation Parameters | Set the amount of bandwidth that must not be used for primary and standby paths. Set the reserved bandwidth as a percentage of the link bandwidth plus a fixed amount of bandwidth specified as bits or kilobits. |
Path Placement Options MPLS-Enabled Mode | Select All Links Enabled to consider all links to be MPLS enabled. Select User-Specified Per Link to use the MPLS settings defined on each link to determine if the link is MPLS enabled. |
Path Placement Options Allow path intersections at NoFail nodes/links to be considered diverse | Select this option to allow a path that intersects at a NoFail node or link to be considered diverse. |
To change a diversity design, select Modify > All Paths or Modify > Selected Paths. The Modify Tunnels window is displayed as shown in Figure 4.
Table 3 lists the options available in the Modify Tunnels window.
Table 3: Modify Tunnels Window Options
Option | Description |
|---|---|
Configured Diversity Level | Indicate the configured level of path diversity. Available options include facility, link, or site. |
Replace Explicit with Dynamic | Convert the primary path from being explicit to dynamic (loose). |
Div Group | Use to establish path diversity between different tunnels, which might or might not have the same source and destination routers. To group all tunnels that originate and terminate at the same sites, select SITEPAIR. To remove the selection, select NONE. |
Max # Backup Paths | Set the maximum number of backup paths to keep in the design. For example, if you enter 1, all but the first backup path is removed, leaving only one primary path and one backup path. |
Backup Path Type | Set the backup type by selecting Standby, Secondary, or None. |
Tertiary Path Option | Enable the creation of a tertiary path by selecting Add 3DIV. Disable the creation of a tertiary path by selecting Remove 3DIV. |
Figure 5 shows the options available when you click Action at the bottom of the Diverse Path Design window.
To load a previously-saved diversity design, select Action > Import DivPath definition file. To save the current design as a report, select Action > Report.
After completing a diverse path design, you can provision the changes to the Live network using delta provisioning. This is completely optional because you might prefer to only view the design changes in the offline network model for simulation and study. To initiate delta provisioning from the Diverse Path Design window, select Action > Delta Provisioning.