Anycast VTEP IP Redundancy for Edge Node Fast Convergence

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network systems face challenges in providing redundancy and minimizing failover time during the switching process from a failed service node to a redundant node, as packets destined for the failed node may be dropped or not receive service.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method that configures service routers in edge nodes to use the same anycast IP and MAC addresses, and virtual extensible local area network tunnel endpoint (VTEP) IP addresses, allowing for active-standby or active-active modes, and utilizing bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) for fast link-failure detection in the underlay network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If service nodes are configured with redundancy, then service continuity is improved, but failover time increases causing packet loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidfailover time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-configures multiple service nodes with identical anycast IP addresses and establishes BFD detection sessions before failures occur. This preliminary setup allows the network to immediately detect failures and switch to backup nodes without waiting for routing protocol convergence, thus maintaining service continuity while minimizing failover time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional software-based failure detection and routing convergence mechanisms with hardware-based BFD detection in the underlay network. This substitution enables sub-second failure detection and automatic failover by leveraging the faster hardware-level detection capabilities, thereby reducing failover time while ensuring service continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Speed

If BFD is used for fast failure detection, then detection speed is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection speedVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces BFD as an intermediary detection mechanism between service nodes and the underlay network. BFD provides fast failure detection by establishing dedicated detection sessions, acting as a mediator that simplifies the overall system architecture while enabling sub-second detection speeds without requiring complex custom detection logic in each service node

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11539574B2Edge node cluster network redundancy and fast convergence using an underlay anycast VTEP IP

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 VMWARE INC

AI summary

Some embodiments provide a method for providing redundancy and fast convergence for modules operating in a network. The method configures modules to use a same anycast inner IP address, anycast MAC address, and to associate with a same anycast VTEP IP address. In some embodiments, the modules are operating in an active-active mode and all nodes running modules advertise the anycast VTEP IP addresses with equal local preference. In some embodiments, modules are operating in active-standby mode and the node running the active module advertises the anycast VTEP IP address with higher local preference.