Cloud Packet Flow Using Cached VNIC Configuration Subsets

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cloud infrastructure systems face challenges in efficiently managing the distribution of configuration information for packet flow between endpoints, leading to high memory usage and limited interface density on network virtualization devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where only relevant subsets of configuration information are stored locally on network virtualization devices, with the rest being processed by a centralized network interface service, optimizing memory usage and bandwidth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the entire set of configuration information is stored on the network virtualization device, then packet processing can be done locally without sending packets via the network interface service, but memory usage increases and interface density is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket processing efficiencyVSAvoidmemory usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The configuration information is segmented into two parts: a subset of configuration information that is stored locally on the network virtualization device, and the remaining configuration information that is stored and managed by the network interface service. This segmentation allows the system to balance between local packet processing efficiency and memory consumption, as the NVD only stores what is necessary for immediate packet processing while the central service maintains the complete configuration set.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the entire set of configuration information is stored on the network virtualization device, then local packet processing is enabled, but interface density is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket processing efficiencyVSAvoidinterface density

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The configuration information is segmented into two parts: a subset of configuration information that is stored locally on the network virtualization device, and the remaining configuration information that is stored and managed by the network interface service. This segmentation allows the system to balance between local packet processing efficiency and memory consumption, as the NVD only stores what is necessary for immediate packet processing while the central service maintains the complete configuration set.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If packets are sent via the network interface service for processing, then memory usage on the network virtualization device is reduced, but bandwidth is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory usageVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by storing configuration information locally on the network virtualization device for specific packet flows that require frequent processing. This allows packets matching these locally-stored flow entries to be processed and forwarded immediately without consuming bandwidth to communicate with the network interface service, while other packets can still be processed through the central service, optimizing the balance between local processing and centralized management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12592877B2Packet flow in a cloud infrastructure based on cached and non-cached configuration information

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

Techniques for managing the distribution of configuration information that supports the flow of packets in a cloud environment are described. In an example, a virtual network interface card (VNIC) hosted on a network virtualization device NVD receives a first packet from a compute instance associated with the VNIC. The VNIC determines that flow information to send the first packet on a virtual network is unavailable from a memory of the NVD. The VNIC sends, via the NVD, the first packet to a network interface service, where the network interface service maintains configuration information to send packets on the substrate network and is configured to send the first packet on the substrate network based on the configuration information. The NVD receives the flow information from the network interface service, where the flow information is a subset of the configuration information. The NVD stores the flow information in the memory.