Cooperative Control and Data Plane Migration in Network Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network devices face challenges in migrating both control plane (CP) and data plane (DP) functions cooperatively, as the DP cannot be mounted on a virtual machine, limiting the flexibility and performance of packet transfer processes.

Innovation Solution

A communication device with a transfer control unit and a function execution module that allocates resources and migrates both CP and DP functions by utilizing a physical processor, allowing the CP to be operated on a virtual machine and the DP to be operated outside it, enabling cooperative migration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the data plane (DP) is operated outside the virtual machine to maintain high-speed packet transfer performance, then the packet transfer performance is improved, but the ability to migrate both CP and DP cooperatively is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket transfer performanceVSAvoidcooperative migration capability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the function execution module into two independent parts: a virtual machine-based control plane (CP) for management functions and a hardware-based data plane (DP) for packet transfer functions. This segmentation allows each part to operate independently with appropriate technologies while enabling cooperative migration through the virtualization layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual machine acts as an intermediary layer between the control plane and data plane. It manages the data plane indirectly through virtualization mechanisms, enabling cooperative migration of the data plane without requiring the data plane itself to be virtualized, thus maintaining both performance and migration capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the data plane (DP) is mounted on the virtual machine to enable cooperative migration, then the migration flexibility is improved, but the packet transfer performance is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemigration flexibilityVSAvoidpacket transfer performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the function execution module into control plane and data plane components with different mounting locations. The control plane runs on the virtual machine for flexible migration, while the data plane runs on hardware for high-speed packet transfer. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing each component to be optimized for its specific requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual machine serves as an intermediary that enables migration flexibility for the control plane while the hardware data plane maintains performance. The virtualization layer provides the mechanism for cooperative migration without compromising the performance of the hardware-based packet transfer functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If hardware is used for packet transfer to achieve high performance, then the packet transfer speed is improved, but the flexibility to correspond to various service functions is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket transfer speedVSAvoidfunction flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a universal architecture where the virtual machine layer can mount different function execution modules with diverse service functions. The hardware data plane provides high-performance packet transfer that is shared across multiple functions, while the virtualization layer enables flexible configuration and adaptation to various service requirements without hardware changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9858096B2Communication device migration method of extension function and communication system

Publication Date: 2018.01.02 ALAXALA NETWORKS

AI summary

A communication device includes a transfer control unit and a function execution module having a physical processor. The communication device migrates a first process execution unit operated by the function execution module and a management memory to a function execution module of a migration destination. The function execution module notifies the function execution module of the migration destination of information to specify a program allocated to a second process execution unit and information regarding allocation of the physical processor. The function execution module of the migration destination downloads a program file to start the second process execution unit, operates a program of a new second process execution unit by the function execution module of the migration destination, discards the temporary data on the memory of the second process execution unit, and migrates the second process execution unit to the function execution module of the migration destination.