Controller Synchronization for Temporary and Permanent Flow Entries
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Solution Overview
Problem
In centralized-control networks like OpenFlow, synchronizing redundant control apparatuses is inefficient due to high synchronization costs and potential delays when handling large amounts of control information, and there is a risk of mismatched control information states between active and standby controllers during system switching.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus with a synchronization unit and a control information creation unit that distinguishes between temporary and permanent flow entries, allowing temporary entries to be set without waiting for synchronization and ensuring permanent entries are synchronized, thereby reducing setup time and ensuring reliable synchronization of control information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strict synchronization protocol (three-phase commit) is used to synchronize control information between active and standby controllers, then synchronization reliability is improved, but synchronization time and setup delay increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control information into two categories: temporary flow entries (first control information) and permanent flow entries (second control information). Temporary entries are set immediately without waiting for standby controller synchronization, while permanent entries undergo full synchronization. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by applying different synchronization strategies to different types of control information, reducing overall synchronization time while maintaining reliability for critical permanent entries.
2Productivity
If temporary flow entries are set immediately without waiting for synchronization, then setup speed is improved, but risk of state mismatch between controllers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides control information into temporary flow entries and permanent flow entries. Temporary flow entries (first control information) are set immediately in the communication node upon creation, before synchronization with the standby controller, enabling fast setup. Permanent flow entries (second control information) are set only after successful synchronization, ensuring state consistency. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high setup speed for temporary entries and reliable state consistency for permanent entries.
3Measurement precision
If all control information is synchronized before setting, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control information into temporary flow entries and permanent flow entries with different synchronization requirements. Temporary entries are set immediately without waiting for synchronization, improving processing efficiency. Permanent entries are synchronized accurately before setting, ensuring synchronization accuracy. This selective segmentation allows the system to optimize both synchronization accuracy and processing efficiency by applying appropriate synchronization strategies to different types of control information.
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus comprises: a synchronization unit that transmits control information set in a communication node to another control apparatus that operates in synchronization with the control apparatus and synchronizes with the another control apparatus; and a control information creation unit that creates control information to be set in a communication node to be controlled. If the created control information is first control information set temporarily in accordance with a notification from the communication node to be controlled, the control apparatus sets the first control information in the communication node without waiting to synchronize with the another control apparatus. If control information to be set is second control information other than the first control information, the control apparatus sets the second control information in the communication node after synchronizing with the another control apparatus.