Aggregation Port ID Allocation in Distributed Link Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional IEEE802.1AX-based link aggregation technologies are limited in supporting port aggregation across multiple systems, leading to a lack of effective solutions for ensuring the uniqueness and unified allocation of aggregation port IDs in distributed link aggregation systems, which affects network reliability and redundancy.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for allocating aggregation port IDs, where a portal master system allocates IDs to both itself and slave systems within a link aggregation group, with negotiation or pre-configuration to determine master and slave systems, and includes validation and re-allocation processes to ensure ID uniqueness and resource efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional IEEE802.1AX-based link aggregation is used, then port aggregation on one system is supported, but port aggregation across multiple systems cannot be supported

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-system aggregation supportVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into a portal master system and portal slave systems. The portal master system is responsible for unified aggregation port ID allocation across all systems, while portal slave systems execute the allocation and manage their respective aggregation ports. This segmentation enables multi-system aggregation support while distributing complexity across multiple components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If unified allocation method is implemented across multiple portal systems, then aggregation port ID uniqueness is ensured, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaggregation port ID uniquenessVSAvoidallocation management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The portal master system acts as an intermediary between multiple portal slave systems for aggregation port ID allocation. The master system receives allocation requests from slave systems, performs unified allocation to ensure uniqueness, and distributes the allocated IDs back to the slave systems. This intermediary approach ensures ID uniqueness while centralizing allocation management logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If each physical port has a unique ID in LACP system, then ID uniqueness is maintained, but coordination across multiple systems becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveID uniquenessVSAvoidcoordination ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Each portal slave system autonomously sends allocation requests to the portal master system and receives aggregated port ID assignments. The slave systems self-configure their aggregation ports using the allocated IDs without requiring manual coordination. This self-service mechanism maintains ID uniqueness while simplifying operational coordination across multiple systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2908486B1Aggregation port id allocation method and device
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 ZTE CORP
  • EP2908486B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2908486B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2908486B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention provides a method and device for allocating aggregation port Identifiers (ID). The method includes that: a portal master system at one end of an link aggregation group allocates an aggregation port ID to an aggregation port of the portal master system, and allocates an aggregation port ID to a corresponding aggregation port of a portal slave system according to an aggregation port ID allocation request of the portal slave system at the end of the link aggregation group. By the present invention, problems of aggregation port ID allocation of multiple portal systems in one end of the link aggregation group in a related art are solved, and a beneficial effect of realizing unified aggregation port ID allocation to ensure the uniqueness of the aggregation port IDs is achieved.