Centralized Controller for Multi-Vendor Network Service Insertion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and configuring network switches from different vendors is challenging due to incompatibilities in their operating systems and control protocols, requiring complex manual configurations and increasing with network complexity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a centralized cross-platform controller that communicates with controller clients on switches to manage and configure virtual switches and routers, allowing for service insertion by redirecting traffic through selected service devices based on service insertion policies, and generating virtual network topologies to simplify network management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual configuration methods are used to manage network switches from different vendors, then network service functionality can be implemented, but the complexity of configuration increases significantly and management efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized controller as an intermediary between network administrators and multi-vendor switches. This controller provides a unified configuration interface that translates administrative commands into vendor-specific instructions, eliminating the need for administrators to manually configure each switch according to its specific protocol. The controller acts as a mediator that handles the complexity of multi-vendor compatibility while presenting a simplified management interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized controller implements a universal configuration management system that can manage switches from multiple vendors through a single interface. Rather than requiring separate configuration procedures for each vendor's switch, the controller provides multi-functional capabilities to handle diverse switch types uniformly, thereby improving ease of operation without increasing configuration complexity.
2Productivity
If centralized controller is implemented to manage diverse switches, then configuration efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional control infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized controller implements automated service insertion functionality that eliminates the need for manual configuration of service devices. The controller automatically identifies required services, determines appropriate service devices, and configures the necessary routing and forwarding rules. This self-service capability significantly improves configuration efficiency while the automation reduces the operational complexity burden on administrators.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs preliminary analysis of network service requirements before actual configuration is needed. By pre-evaluating service insertion policies, identifying suitable service devices in advance, and preparing configuration parameters, the system streamlines the configuration process. This preliminary action reduces the complexity of real-time configuration decisions and improves overall productivity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A controller implemented on computing equipment may be used to control switches in a network. End hosts and service devices may be coupled to the switches in the network. The controller may generate a virtual network topology of virtual switches and virtual routers. The controller may control the virtual routers and/or virtual switches to perform service insertion. The controller may perform service insertion by controlling the virtual routers and/or virtual switches to redirect network traffic through one or more selected service devices. The controller may determine which network traffic is to be redirected to which service devices based on a service insertion policy that identifies network traffic and services to be performed on the network traffic.