Network Element Selective Load Balancing via Content Addressable Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of network nodes increases, network complexity grows, making it difficult to implement customized traffic forwarding rules efficiently, often requiring additional hardware and software resources, and introducing latency when performed in a serial or software-based manner.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a network element that selectively load balances network traffic by creating forwarding entries based on received load balancing criteria and programming a content addressable memory, allowing for simultaneous traffic selection and load-balancing operations in a single clock cycle, thereby optimizing resource utilization and reducing latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If customized traffic forwarding rules are implemented in a serial or software-based manner, then traffic forwarding customization is achieved, but latency increases and processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based serial processing with hardware-based parallel processing using content addressable memory (CAM). The CAM table stores forwarding entries that enable simultaneous matching of multiple traffic flows in a single clock cycle, eliminating the sequential software processing bottleneck and dramatically reducing latency while maintaining customization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-populates a CAM table with forwarding entries before traffic arrives. Each entry contains pre-configured matching criteria (source/destination addresses, ports, protocols) and corresponding actions. When traffic arrives, the CAM table immediately matches against pre-computed entries, eliminating real-time computation delays and enabling fast forwarded customization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of network nodes increases, then network capacity and functionality improve, but network complexity increases making customized traffic forwarding difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal forwarding system where a single CAM-based forwarding table handles all traffic forwarding decisions regardless of the number of network nodes. The system can simultaneously support multiple network nodes and diverse traffic types by storing multiple forwarding entries in the CAM table, each representing a different traffic flow rule. This universal approach eliminates the need for complex node-specific configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the complex task of traffic forwarding into discrete, manageable forwarding entries stored in the CAM table. Each entry represents a specific traffic flow rule with defined matching criteria and actions. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex multi-node scenarios by breaking down the overall forwarding task into many simple, parallelizable lookup operations.
3Productivity
If additional hardware and software resources are allocated for customized traffic forwarding, then forwarding capability improves, but resource consumption and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses content addressable memory to create a compact, efficient copy-based forwarding table structure. Instead of implementing complex software forwarding logic, the system stores forwarding rules as simple key-value pairs in CAM, where the key is the traffic flow identifier and the value is the forwarding action. This copying approach enables fast parallel matching without requiring extensive software resources.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, load balancing criteria and an indication of a plurality of network nodes is received. A plurality of forwarding entries are created based on the load balancing criteria and the indication of the plurality of nodes. A content addressable memory of a network element is programmed with the plurality of forwarding entries. The network element selectively load balances network traffic by applying the plurality of forwarding entries to the network traffic, wherein network traffic meeting the load balancing criteria is load balanced among the plurality of network nodes.