Chronological Graph Database for Virtual Network Topology Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtualized networks, dynamic changes due to software updates, maintenance, or auto-healing make it difficult to determine the topology in real time and identify the cause and location of failures, as network configurations constantly shift.
Innovation Solution
A network system with a storage unit that chronologically stores topology information, including endpoint and connection details of both logical and physical resources, and an orchestrator that acquires setting information to update this data, allowing for real-time topology determination and quick failure identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network virtualization is implemented to accommodate multiple VNTs on physical infrastructure, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but topology determination difficulty increases due to dynamic changes from software updates, maintenance, and auto-healing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a database that chronologically stores topology information of virtual networks before failures occur. The system proactively captures and stores topology data including endpoint information and connection information of both logical and physical resources, so that when a failure happens, the pre-stored topology data can be immediately retrieved without needing to perform complex real-time topology determination during the failure event.
2Extent of automation
If distributed resource control is used for each VNT, then autonomous control of individual VNTs is improved, but failure identification speed deteriorates due to constant topology changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by establishing a chronological database that continuously records topology information changes. The system feeds back stored topology data to the failure analysis process, allowing operators to retrieve historical topology states at specific time points. This feedback mechanism enables quick failure identification by comparing pre-failure topology data with post-failure data, eliminating the time loss caused by constant topology changes in autonomous VNT control environments.
3Measurement precision
If real-time topology tracking is attempted in dynamically changing virtualized networks, then current topology accuracy is improved, but system complexity and calculation requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating and storing simplified copies of topology information in a chronological database rather than attempting to continuously track and analyze the complete dynamic topology in real-time. The system captures essential topology data including endpoint information and connection information of logical and physical resources, storing these copies chronologically. This approach maintains sufficient topology accuracy for failure analysis while significantly reducing system complexity and calculation requirements compared to continuous real-time tracking.
Data Source
AI summary
A network system includes a storage unit that stores topology information in a graph database in chronological order, the topology information including end point information and connection information of logical resources of the virtual network, end point information and connection information of physical resources of the physical network, and correspondence information between the logical resources and the physical resources; a setting information acquirer that acquires setting information of the virtual network from the orchestrator using a change notification from the orchestrator as a trigger; and a topology information management unit that updates the topology information stored in the graph database of the storage unit on the basis of the acquired setting information.