HUAWEI NetEngine40E Universal Service Router

Feature Description - QoS 10 Multicast Virtual Scheduling

10 Multicast Virtual Scheduling

About This Chapter

10.1 Introduction
10.2 Principles
10.3 Applications

10.1 Introduction

Definition
Multicast virtual scheduling is a traffic scheduling mechanism for subscribers who demand
multicast programs. After a subscriber joins a multicast group, if multicast traffic needs to be
copied based on the multicast VLAN or if the replication point is a downstream device, the
bandwidth for the unicast traffic of the subscriber is adjusted accordingly. As a result,
bandwidths for the unicast traffic and multicast traffic of the subscriber are adjusted in a
coordinated manner.

Purpose
Multicast virtual scheduling is a subscriber-level traffic scheduling. It adjusts the bandwidths
for the unicast traffic and multicast traffic of a subscriber in a coordinated manner without
changing the total bandwidth of the subscriber, thus ensuring the quality of BTV services of
the subscriber.

Multicast Virtual Scheduling Overview

With the development of the broadband TV (BTV) service, the quality of video services on
TVs is now a key issue that has a direct impact on the experiences and feelings of users.
Therefore, carriers must ensure that users can view TV programs smoothly by managing the
available bandwidth subtle.

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Feature Description - QoS 10 Multicast Virtual Scheduling

Figure 10-1 Schematic view of the background of multicast virtual scheduling

As shown in Figure 10-1, a family views multicast programs (multicast data) through a Set
Top Box (STB) and browses the Internet (unicast data) through a PC. For example, the
maximum bandwidth for the family is 3 Mbit/s. The Internet service occupies all the 3 Mbit/s
bandwidth, and then the user demands a multicast program requiring a bandwidth of 2 Mbit/s
through the STB.

As the multicast data and unicast data require the bandwidth of 5 Mbit/s in total, data
congestion will occur in the access network, and some packets will be discarded. Therefore,
the quality of the multicast program cannot be ensured.

Multicast Virtual Scheduling Solutions

The multicast virtual scheduling technology is developed to solve this problem. The multicast
virtual scheduling technology is the user-class scheduling. When the total bandwidth of a user
is limited, this technology realizes the dynamic adjustment of the unicast bandwidth and the
multicast bandwidth for the user. Therefore, the quality of the BTV service is ensured.

The multicast virtual scheduling can solve the problem shown in Figure 10-1. The router is
configured with the multicast virtual scheduling feature. When the sum of the multicast traffic
and unicast traffic received by a user is greater than the bandwidth assigned to the user, the
router reduces the bandwidth for unicast traffic of the user to 1 Mbit/s to meet the requirement
of bandwidth for multicast traffic. Therefore, the multicast program can be played normally.

Multicast Shaping Overview

After the IPTV multicast service is deployed, the multicast source may jitter when the
multicast traffic is huge. The NE40E can shape the multicast traffic so that the jitter of the
multicast source can be limited in an acceptable degree. If the NE40E is configured with the
function of multicast shaping, the NE40E can control the multicast traffic of users in the
domain when users use multicast services. This prevents the multicast traffic from bursting
and can help to send multicast packets smoothly and control the jitter of the multicast source
in an acceptable degree.

10.2 Principles

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Feature Description - QoS 10 Multicast Virtual Scheduling

10.2.1 Basic Principles of Multicast Virtual Scheduling

Multicast virtual scheduling is a subscriber-level scheduling. When a downstream device

functions as the multicast replication point, the BRAS copies the multicast traffic of all
subscribers rather than the specified subscriber to the downstream device. As a result, the
multicast traffic of the subscriber does not enter the subscriber queue along with the unicast
traffic on the BRAS for traffic scheduling. Unicast traffic of the subscriber is still forwarded
using the maximum bandwidth of the subscriber, leaving insufficient bandwidth to forward
the multicast traffic of the subscriber. When a subscriber joins a multicast group, the BRAS
needs to deduct the bandwidth of the multicast traffic from the unicast bandwidth of the
subscriber, to ensure bandwidth for the multicast traffic of the subscriber. In this manner, the
total bandwidth of the subscriber remains unchanged, but bandwidth is ensured for the
multicast traffic of the subscriber. When the subscriber leaves the multicast group, the BRAS
releases the multicast bandwidth. In this process, coordinated bandwidth allocation for both
the unicast traffic and multicast traffic of a subscriber is implemented, ensuring the QoS for
the BTV service and the subscriber.

As shown in Figure 10-2, the maximum bandwidth for traffic from the DSLAM to the
subscriber is 3 Mbit/s. Assume that the subscriber uses up the 3 Mbit/s of bandwidth for
unicast traffic service, and then demands a multicast program which requires 2 Mbit/s of
bandwidth. In this case, the total traffic required by the subscriber is 5 Mbit/s, much higher
than the allowed 3 Mbit/s bandwidth. As a result, the link between the DSLAM and LAN
Switch is congested, and packets begin to be dropped. Because the DSLAM does not provide
QoS treatment, packets are randomly discarded. As a result, multicast traffic is discarded, and
the subscriber cannot have quality service for the requested multicast program. To ensure
quality service for the requested multicast program, the BRAS needs to be configured to
dynamically adjust the bandwidth for unicast traffic according to the bandwidth for multicast
traffic. The DSLAM sends the IGMP Report message of the subscriber through the
subscriber's VLAN to the BRAS. After receiving the IGMP Report message, the BRAS
reduces the bandwidth for the subscriber's unicast traffic to 1 Mbit/s, leaving the remaining 2
Mbit/s for the subscriber's multicast traffic. In this manner, quality service is ensured for the
requested multicast program.

Figure 10-2 Diagram of the multicast virtual scheduling

RADIUS server

STB
interface2 Internet
interface1 100.1.1.1/24
LAN switch DSLAM
Device
Internet user

10.3 Applications

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Feature Description - QoS 10 Multicast Virtual Scheduling

When the replication point of multicast traffic is not on the BRAS, multicast virtual
scheduling can be applied in the following two typical scenarios.

10.3.1 Typical Single-Edge Network with Multicast Virtual

Scheduling
In a typical single-edge network where a BRAS is accessed by users and forwards multicast
traffic and multicast virtual scheduling is configured, the BRAS needs to provide both the
functions of virtual scheduling and multicast data replication.
As shown in Figure 10-3, when getting online, the subscriber sends online request packets to
NE40E. These request packets carry Option 82 information or outer VLAN information about
the subscriber. NE40E identifies all the service flows belonging to the same family according
to the Option 82 information or outer VLAN information, and implements scheduling of these
services as a whole.
After detecting that the subscriber demands a multicast program and determining that virtual
scheduling needs to be implemented, NE40E adjusts the bandwidth for the subscriber's
unicast traffic based on the bandwidth of the demanded multicast program and the total
bandwidth of the subscriber. Then, NE40E forwards the requested multicast traffic through
the multicast VLAN, and the downstream device (for example, the DSLAM) copies the
multicast traffic to the subscriber.

Figure 10-3 Typical single-edge network with multicast virtual scheduling

RADIUS server

STB
interface2 Internet
interface1 100.1.1.1/24
LAN switch DSLAM
Device
Internet user

10.3.2 Typical Double-Edge Network with Multicast Virtual

Scheduling
In a typical double-edge network that is configured with multicast virtual scheduling, the
Device A needs only to implement virtual scheduling. Multicast data replication is
implemented by the Device B.
The double-edge network shown in Figure 10-4 is similar to the single-edge network. Device
A identifies all the service flows belonging to the same family according to the Option 82
information or outer VLAN information, and implements virtual scheduling of these services
as a whole.
After detecting that the subscriber demands a multicast program and determining that virtual
scheduling needs to be implemented, Device A adjusts the bandwidth for the subscriber's
unicast traffic based on the bandwidth of the demanded multicast program and the total

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Feature Description - QoS 10 Multicast Virtual Scheduling

bandwidth of the subscriber. Then, Device B forwards the requested multicast traffic through
the multicast VLAN, and the downstream device copies the multicast traffic to the subscriber.
In addition to forwarding multicast data to the subscriber, Device B also forwards the
multicast data to Device A. Device A measures the received multicast data, and implements
multicast virtual scheduling based on the measurement result.

Figure 10-4 Typical double-edge network with multicast virtual scheduling

RADIUS server

interface2
100.1.1.1/24
interface1

STB DeviceA Internet

LAN switch DSLAM

Internet user DeviceB

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