Enterprise Application Location Mapping for Dynamic Connector Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for managing connections to distributed enterprise applications rely on manual static configuration, which is inefficient and time-consuming, especially when clients travel across geographies or when origins do not exist in a given data center, and they struggle with intelligent mapping through service provider overlay networks.
Innovation Solution
A location service that automatically discovers the locations of internal enterprise application instances and facilitates routing by using connectors with public IP addresses, leveraging a service provider's overlay network to perform global and local traffic mapping decisions based on latency and connectivity, reducing the need for static configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual static configuration is used for mapping clients to application instances, then configuration simplicity is maintained, but routing efficiency and adaptability to dynamic geographies deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through automated discovery where connectors automatically register their locations and capabilities with the location service, and the mapping system automatically discovers and updates application instance locations without manual configuration. This eliminates the need for administrators to manually map clients to instances while maintaining routing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The location service performs preliminary discovery and registration of connector locations and application instances before routing decisions are needed. Connectors pre-register their public IP addresses and locations, and the system pre-discovers application instance locations, enabling fast automated routing without manual configuration during operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multi-view DNS configuration is used to handle geographic distribution, then adaptability to different geographies is improved, but system complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The location service acts as an intermediary between the mapping system and the distributed application instances. Instead of configuring complex multi-view DNS across multiple zones and views, the location service automatically discovers and manages the mapping between clients, connectors, and application instances, simplifying the system architecture while maintaining geographic adaptability.
3Reliability
If connectors are hidden behind firewalls with public IP addresses, then network security is improved, but discoverability and direct accessibility of enterprise applications deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The location service implements a feedback mechanism where connectors periodically report their status, public IP addresses, and location information to the location service. The location service maintains an updated registry and responds to queries from the mapping system, enabling discoverability while maintaining the security architecture of hidden connectors behind firewalls.
Data Source
AI summary
A service for automatic discovery of locations at which instances of an internal enterprise application are located. The service is configured to facilitate routing of connection requests directed to the internal enterprise application, which is hosted in distinct enterprise locations. The service works in association with a set of connectors that each have an associated Internet Protocol (IP) address (typically of a device to which the connector is coupled) at which it is reachable and through which a connection to an internal enterprise application instance can be proxied. Connections to the internal enterprise application are routable along a network path from a client to a given connector through a set of intermediary nodes. Using information collected from the connectors, the service performs a series of correlations to enable service provider mapping technologies to make both global and local traffic mapping decisions for these internal enterprise resources. In a variant embodiment wherein connectors can access the application across site-to-site connections, the system also leverages connector-to-origin latency data to facilitate a full path mapping solution.