Border Network Device IP Tagging for Multi-Site DHCP Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Software Defined Networks (SDNs) spanning multiple geographically separated sites, existing DHCP protocols face challenges in accurately routing and assigning network settings to hosts across different sites, leading to inefficiencies and potential misdirection of DHCP messages.
Innovation Solution
The method involves adding sender border network device IP addresses or site identifiers to DHCP discover messages, which are then transmitted to an external DHCP server, allowing for the inclusion of destination routing data in DHCP offer packets to ensure correct routing within the network fabric, enabling dynamic host configuration across multiple sites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If DHCP messages are transmitted across multiple geographically separated sites in SDN, then dynamic host configuration can be provided to hosts at different locations, but accurate routing and message direction become difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces border network devices as intermediary components between sites and the DHCP server. These border devices add routing information (sender border device IP address and destination border device IP address) to DHCP messages, acting as mediators that enable accurate routing across geographically separated sites while maintaining centralized DHCP server management.
2Stability of the object's composition
If centralized DHCP server management is maintained across distributed sites, then unified network control is achieved, but message routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring border network devices with their own IP addresses and the IP addresses of other border devices. This preliminary setup enables automatic routing determination without real-time complex calculations, reducing routing complexity while maintaining centralized control through the DHCP server.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides for dynamic host configuration across multiple sites in software defined networks, by: receiving, from a host, a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) discover message at an edge network device of a site; adding to the DHCP discover message a sender border network device IP (Internet Protocol) address for a border network device of the site; transmitting the DHCP discover message, from the border network device to a DHCP server located externally of the site to instruct the DHCP server to return a DHCP offer packet including a destination border network device IP address for a destination border network device of a destination site; receiving the DHCP offer packet; and in response to determining that the destination border network device IP address matches the sender border network device IP address, forwarding the DHCP offer packet to the edge network device to perform DHCP forwarding.