Containerized Router Service Chaining for CNF Orchestration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current containerized network function (CNF) deployments in cloud data centers face challenges in efficiently orchestrating and configuring network functions across diverse computing environments, requiring agile and scalable networking solutions that can integrate with multiple orchestration platforms and manage traffic processing and forwarding effectively.
Innovation Solution
The deployment of a containerized router paired with a CNF on the same server, utilizing a container network interface (CNI) to automate orchestration and configuration, enables traffic forwarding and processing by configuring virtual network interfaces and applying policies based on the interface received, effectively making the containerized router a gateway and the CNF a service in a service chain managed by the router.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If containerized network functions are deployed across diverse computing environments, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity and orchestration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal containerized router architecture that can function across diverse computing environments (public cloud, private cloud, on-premises) through standardized container interfaces. The router uses container network interface (CNI) plugins and support for multiple orchestration platforms (Kubernetes, OpenStack, Docker Swarm) to provide multi-functional adaptability without requiring environment-specific customizations, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The containerized router acts as an intermediary component between the containerized network function and the underlying orchestration platform. It provides a standardized interface layer that mediates between diverse computing environments and the CNF, enabling adaptability while shielding users from the complexity of different orchestration platforms through unified configuration mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If containerized routers provide full routing functionality, then service capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The containerized router implements self-service capabilities through automated route propagation and service chain configuration. The system automatically discovers services, propagates routing information, and configures service chains without manual intervention, providing full routing functionality while reducing configuration complexity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The router performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring routing tables and service chain policies based on service registration information. Routes are propagated in advance before traffic flows are established, and service chain configurations are prepared beforehand, enabling full routing functionality to be available immediately without complex real-time configuration.
3Productivity
If service chaining is implemented with automated orchestration, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The orchestration system is segmented into independent, modular components: container network interface (CNI) plugins for network configuration, routing protocol daemons for route management, and service chain orchestrators for policy enforcement. This segmentation enables automated service chaining and high productivity while managing complexity through modular, independently deployable components with well-defined interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes in container metadata and network attachment definitions to automatically trigger orchestration actions. When container parameters (such as network requirements or service chain affiliations) change, the system automatically adjusts routing configurations and service chain policies, improving deployment efficiency while keeping the orchestration logic simple and event-driven.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to computer networking and, more specifically, to service chaining a containerized network function (CNF) using a containerized router, the CNF and containerized router both deployed to the same server. In an example, a method comprises executing, with a computing device: a containerized network function; a virtual router to implement a data plane for a containerized router; and a containerized routing protocol daemon to implement a control plane for the containerized router, wherein the containerized network function and containerized routing protocol daemon execute on the same computing device, and wherein a first virtual network interface of the computing device enables communications between the containerized network function and the virtual router; and forwarding, by the virtual router, based on a static route, traffic destined for a prefix to the first virtual network interface to send the traffic to the containerized network function.