Active Controller Ring for SDN Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern communication and data networks with centralized control systems are susceptible to failures, processing bottlenecks, and scalability issues due to single-point-of-failures and inflexible control channels, which hinder efficient management and optimization of network performance.
Innovation Solution
A logically centralized multi-controller system with an active controller ring that dynamically modifies the number of active controllers to process incoming data packets, using a scheduler to add or remove controllers based on traffic load, and generates flow tables for routing instructions, enabling efficient distribution of routing instructions across network nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a centralized control system is used to manage all control plane functions, then network management and optimization capability is improved, but the system becomes susceptible to failures and processing bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized control system into multiple controller instances organized in a ring topology. Each controller can independently process control plane functions, eliminating the single-point-of-failure problem while maintaining centralized management capabilities through the ring structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operational parameters of controllers based on traffic load conditions. When traffic volume exceeds thresholds, additional controllers are activated or removed from the ring, allowing the system to adapt its capacity and maintain reliability under varying loads.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a centralized control system is used to manage all control plane functions, then network customization and optimization are improved, but processing bottlenecks occur
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the control plane processing across multiple controller instances in the ring, each controller handles a portion of the traffic flow. This segmentation increases overall processing throughput while maintaining the customization capabilities of SDN through distributed decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller ring dynamically adjusts its configuration based on traffic conditions. Controllers can be added or removed from active service based on load thresholds, allowing the system to optimize processing throughput while maintaining customization capabilities through flexible resource allocation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of centralized controllers is increased to manage varying traffic volumes, then network scalability is improved, but synchronization delays and process delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ring structure implements periodic action through sequential controller activation and deactivation based on traffic thresholds. This periodic adjustment allows the system to scale capacity without requiring continuous synchronization across all controllers, reducing synchronization delays while maintaining scalability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for distributing routing instructions to a plurality of nodes within an OpenFlow Software Defined Network (SDN) using a logically centralized multi-controller that comprises a plurality of controllers, wherein the method comprises receiving a plurality of incoming data packets, storing a plurality of current flow tables, queuing the incoming data packets, wherein the incoming data packets are queued based on the order received, processing the incoming data packets based on the order the incoming data packets were queued, wherein the incoming data packets that are first to be queued are the first to be processed, generating a plurality of flow tables by processing the incoming data packets, and transmitting the flow tables to the plurality of nodes when the flow tables have not been previously generated.