Active-Active Cluster Forwarding Rule Synchronization via Control Node
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Solution Overview
Problem
In active-active clusters, the unreliable synchronization of forwarding rules between network devices leads to packet loss and communication service interruptions, as nodes may not receive inbound forwarding rules in time to process response packets correctly.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a control method and a control node that stores forwarding rules independently, allowing each node in the active-active cluster to obtain rules from the control node as needed, ensuring reliable synchronization and reducing the need for rule storage on each node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the first network processing node sends the inbound forwarding rule to all other network processing nodes in the active-active cluster, then the forwarding rules are synchronized across nodes, but the synchronization reliability is poor and packet loss occurs when nodes do not receive rules in time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control node as an intermediary between network processing nodes. The control node receives forwarding rules from the first network processing node and distributes them to the second network processing node, ensuring reliable rule synchronization. This mediator approach eliminates the unreliable direct peer-to-peer synchronization between cluster nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control node pre-establishes a database for storing forwarding rules and maintains readiness to distribute rules before they are needed. When the second network processing node needs a forwarding rule, the control node can immediately provide it, preventing packet loss due to timing issues in rule synchronization.
2Ease of operation
If each network processing node stores all forwarding rules locally, then nodes can process packets independently, but the device complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the forwarding rule storage function from the network processing nodes and places it in a dedicated control node. Each network processing node only stores or caches rules temporarily needed for processing, while the control node maintains the complete set of forwarding rules in its database, reducing complexity at processing nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control node acts as a centralized repository and distributor of forwarding rules, allowing network processing nodes to maintain simpler local storage while still having access to all necessary rules through the intermediary control node.
3Productivity
If the cluster uses unicast or multicast synchronization for forwarding rules, then rule distribution is implemented, but the synchronization is unreliable and service interruptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control node serves as a reliable intermediary that manages the distribution of forwarding rules to cluster nodes. It receives rules from the first node and ensures they are properly delivered to the second node, replacing the unreliable unicast/multicast direct synchronization between cluster nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the control node tracks which nodes have received which forwarding rules and can request retransmission if needed, ensuring reliable synchronization without service interruptions.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides an active-active cluster control method. The method includes: A control node receives a first query request sent by a first network processing node in an active-active cluster, configures an outbound forwarding rule based on forwarding information that is of a first packet and that is carried in the first query request, generates an inbound forwarding rule whose direction is opposite to that of the outbound forwarding rule, and sends the outbound forwarding rule to the first network processing node. The control node may further receive a second query request sent by a second network processing node in the active-active cluster, determine that forwarding information of a second packet matches the inbound forwarding rule, obtain, based on the forwarding information of the second packet, the recorded inbound forwarding rule, and send the inbound forwarding rule to the second network processing node. Technical solutions provided in this application can implement reliable synchronization of forwarding rules between network devices in the active-active cluster, thereby avoiding problems such as a packet loss and service interruption.