Active Link Priority Assignment in Virtual Port-Channel Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication networks face challenges in maintaining a balance of active links across network devices, leading to potential traffic imbalances and reduced bandwidth when physical links are aggregated into logical links without proper priority assignment.
Innovation Solution
The method involves configuring network devices into logical groups, uniquely identifying each device, and assigning priorities to links to select active links, ensuring a balanced distribution across devices within a virtual port-channel complex, using protocols like IEEE 802.3ad Ethernet standard for link aggregation and modifying LACP advertisements to communicate vPC data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple physical links are aggregated into logical links without priority assignment, then bandwidth is increased and link redundancy is provided, but traffic imbalance occurs and active links are not evenly distributed across network devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different priority levels to different physical links based on their characteristics and the specific needs of the network topology. Each link is evaluated individually and assigned a priority (e.g., priority 1, 2, or 3) that reflects its suitability for carrying active traffic. This ensures that links with better performance or more favorable conditions are selected as active links, while maintaining an even distribution across network devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of link priority assignment dynamically based on the network state and device characteristics. By modifying the priority parameters assigned to links, the system can control which links become active and ensure balanced distribution. The priority assignment is adjusted to achieve equal distribution of active links across devices in the virtual port-channel complex, resolving the traffic imbalance issue.
2Ease of operation
If links are assigned with priority for balanced active link selection, then active link distribution is balanced across devices, but device complexity increases due to priority management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assigning priorities to physical links during the link aggregation configuration phase, before the actual traffic forwarding begins. This pre-assignment is based on static characteristics of the links and devices, and the priority information is stored and used automatically when selecting active links. This eliminates the need for complex real-time calculations and reduces operational complexity during runtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by having each network device independently determine its own active links based on the pre-assigned priorities and the identities of other devices in the virtual port-channel complex. Each device autonomously selects its active links without requiring complex coordination or centralized control, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining balanced distribution.
3Ease of operation
If unique identification of network devices is implemented in the second logical group, then link priority assignment can be optimized for balance, but information exchange overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for priority assignment and balance optimization - specifically, the unique device identities and the count of active links per device. This minimal information set is exchanged between devices through protocol extensions, avoiding the transmission of unnecessary data. The extracted information is sufficient to enable each device to determine appropriate priority assignments and maintain balanced active link distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes configuring a first network device for operation in a first logical group with a second network device, receiving information from other network devices configured for operation in a second logical group, the information uniquely identifying each of the other network devices within the second logical group, and assigning a priority to each link connecting the first network device to the second logical group network devices. A portion of the links are selected as active links based on the link priorities and the link priorities are assigned such that a balance of active links is maintained across the second logical group network devices. An apparatus for maintaining a balance of active links across the network devices is also disclosed.