L3 Connection Failure Location via BFD Session Pattern Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network protocols, such as BFD, do not effectively determine the location of Layer 3 connection failures in multi-attached host nodes with complex network topologies, leading to challenges in rapid and reliable failure detection and recovery.
Innovation Solution
Establishing Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) sessions between multi-attached host nodes to monitor L3 communication paths and analyzing the pattern of up/down states in conjunction with network topology knowledge to pinpoint the failure location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If BFD protocol is used for connectivity monitoring, then detection speed is improved, but ability to locate failure position deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connectivity monitoring function into multiple BFD sessions, each associated with specific network paths. By establishing separate BFD sessions for different path combinations between multi-attached host nodes, the system can detect failures rapidly while simultaneously identifying which specific session failed, thereby locating the failure position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that correlates BFD session states with network topology information. This intermediary layer processes the up/down states of multiple BFD sessions and matches them against known network paths to determine the apparent location of failures, bridging the gap between rapid detection and precise location.
2Reliability
If multiple BFD sessions are established for multi-attached host nodes, then failure detection reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes BFD sessions multi-functional by having each session serve both as a rapid detection mechanism and as a location identification indicator. The same BFD session infrastructure that provides fast failure detection also enables failure location through pattern analysis of session states, eliminating the need for separate detection and location systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary configuration of multiple BFD sessions with specific path associations before failures occur. By pre-establishing the relationship between BFD sessions and network paths, the system simplifies real-time failure analysis, as the correlation logic is already in place and does not need to be dynamically determined when failures occur.
3Reliability
If BFD sessions monitor all L3 paths, then coverage of failure detection is improved, but overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by establishing BFD sessions for specific path combinations rather than all possible paths. For multi-attached host nodes, selective BFD sessions are configured to monitor critical paths, providing sufficient detection coverage while avoiding the overhead of monitoring every possible L3 path between nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, the present invention addresses Layer-3 (L3) connection monitoring between two “multi-attached” host nodes that are interconnected via an intervening communication network having a known network topology. The present invention provides the two-fold benefit of rapid connection failure detection and failure location determination. In one or more embodiments, the present invention “pinpoints” the failure location, improving the intelligence of any triggered failure recovery mechanism and/or providing better, more meaningful failure reporting. A BFD session is established between the local and remote host nodes for each L3 communication path between them, e.g., for each unique pairing of local and remote network attachment points. Upon the occurrence of an L3 connection failure, the pattern of up/down states for these BFD sessions is analyzed, along with knowledge of the involved network topology, to determine the apparent location of the L3 connection failure.