Data Fabric Traffic Diversion for High-Speed Link Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing system-level testing (SLT) technologies lack the capability to perform comprehensive mission-mode testing on high-speed links in data fabric devices, leading to potential undetection of faulty devices during quality control.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a self-contained solution within data fabric devices that diverts traffic to a worst-case data path for training and testing, using a design-for-test feature to spoof addresses and simulate communication across high-speed links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing SLT technologies are used for testing high-speed links, then testing can be performed, but comprehensive mission-mode testing capability is insufficient and faulty devices may pass quality control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary testing system that includes a test device connected between the data fabric device and the endpoint. This test device implements mission-mode testing by simulating real-world communication conditions and intercepting traffic to verify high-speed link performance, thereby resolving the insufficient testing capability while maintaining quality control reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary testing actions before the data fabric device is deployed to customers. By conducting comprehensive mission-mode testing in advance using the intermediary test device, faulty devices are identified and filtered out before leaving the manufacturing environment, ensuring only reliable devices proceed to quality control
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive mission-mode testing is implemented, then testing accuracy improves, but device complexity and testing infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex testing functionality from the data fabric device itself and places it in a separate intermediary test device. This allows the data fabric device to remain relatively simple while the testing infrastructure provides the necessary complexity for comprehensive mission-mode testing, achieving high measurement precision without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a test endpoint that copies or emulates the functionality of real customer endpoints. This copying approach allows comprehensive mission-mode testing to be performed without requiring actual customer deployments, reducing infrastructure complexity while maintaining testing accuracy through simulated real-world conditions
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional SLT testing is used, then existing infrastructure can be utilized, but faulty devices with malfunctioning high-speed links cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary test device that bridges the simple existing manufacturing infrastructure with enhanced fault detection capability. This test device implements mission-mode testing that can detect faulty high-speed links while working within the constraints of existing manufacturing processes, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key testing parameters by implementing mission-mode testing that simulates real-world communication conditions, traffic patterns, and latency requirements. These parameter changes enable faulty devices to be detected without fundamentally altering the manufacturing process, maintaining ease of manufacture while enhancing fault detection capability
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary data fabric device comprises a first traffic moderator configured to receive traffic destined for a specific endpoint accessible via a plurality of data paths and divert the traffic from a first data path included in the data paths to a second data path included in the data paths. The exemplary data fabric device also comprises a first interconnect controller that resides within the second data path and is configured to forward the traffic to the specific endpoint via a first communication link to test a functionality of the first communication link. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.