Adaptive Load Balancer SDN Traffic Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional load balancers do not dynamically adjust to changing data traffic congestion in networks, leading to unpredictable response times and inefficient resource allocation, as they lack end-to-end visibility and do not utilize statistical information from Software Defined Network (SDN) controllers.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive load balancer integrated with an SDN controller that uses a weighted round robin scheduler to dynamically adjust client request distribution based on real-time network congestion data, operating in passive port, passive path, active path, and quality of service (QoS) overlay modes to optimize traffic steering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If round-robin scheduling is used to distribute requests equally among servers, then the number of requests per server is equalized, but the average response time suffers due to unequal work queue distribution caused by network congestion variations
Solution Approach 1:
The load balancer dynamically adjusts the weight assigned to each server based on real-time network congestion data received from the SDN controller. Instead of static equal distribution, servers experiencing network congestion are assigned lower weights, causing the scheduling algorithm to automatically redirect more requests to servers with better network conditions, thereby optimizing response time while maintaining balanced request distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the load balancer continuously receives statistical information from the SDN controller about network congestion levels. This feedback loop allows the load balancer to adaptively adjust server weights in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to changing network conditions and optimizes request distribution accordingly
2Device complexity
If conventional load balancers operate without SDN integration, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to changing network congestion conditions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The SDN controller serves as an intermediary between the network infrastructure and the load balancer. It collects detailed network congestion statistics from the data network and provides this information to the load balancer, which then uses it to dynamically adjust server weights. This intermediary approach allows the load balancer to adapt to network conditions without requiring complex built-in networking intelligence
Solution Approach 2:
The load balancer is enhanced with multi-functionality by integrating SDN controller capabilities. The same load balancer can now perform both traditional request distribution and adaptive weight adjustment based on network conditions, making it a universal solution that handles both static and dynamic load balancing scenarios
Data Source
AI summary
Data traffic is intelligently steered by an adaptive load balancer through a software defined network (SDN) to which the load balancer is operatively coupled. The network has egress ports to which a plurality of servers is connected. The network has an SDN controller which generates statistical information concerning the network. Data traffic is steered through the SDN by the adaptive load balancer using a passive port method, a passive path, method, an active path method and an active path with quality of service (QoS) overlay method.