Deterministic Switching Protection Aggregated Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-speed network environments, switching from a primary connection to a redundant connection can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, leading to network performance degradation due to link renegotiations and packet re-sequencing.
Innovation Solution
Implementing deterministic switching protection over aggregated links, which allows for simultaneous teardown and re-establishment of multiple links during a switchover, while temporarily suppressing network alarms to prevent higher-level entities from initiating link reset renegotiations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional switchover from primary connection to backup connection is performed, then connection redundancy is maintained, but network performance deteriorates due to link renegotiations and packet re-sequencing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by bringing up the backup connection before bringing down the primary connection. The backup connection is pre-established and ready to carry traffic, eliminating the need for renegotiation during switchover. This is achieved through coordinated link management where the backup link is activated in advance, ensuring seamless transition without performance degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention maintains continuous useful action by ensuring data flow never interrupts during switchover. The backup connection is prepared and ready before the primary connection is deactivated, allowing immediate takeover of data traffic. This continuous action prevents packet re-sequencing delays and maintains network performance throughout the transition.
2Reliability
If link renegotiation is performed during switchover, then connection reliability is ensured, but switching time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the action of establishing the backup connection in advance, before the primary connection is brought down. This preliminary establishment includes all necessary protocol negotiations and link configuration, so that when switchover is needed, the backup connection is already ready to immediately carry traffic without any renegotiation delay.
3Speed
If multiple links are brought down simultaneously during switchover, then switchover speed is improved, but network alarms may trigger higher-level entities to initiate link reset renegotiations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the problematic network alarms during the switchover process. By suppressing or removing alarm notifications when multiple links are brought down simultaneously, the system prevents higher-level entities from misinterpreting the simultaneous link down events as failures requiring renegotiation, thus maintaining fast switchover without triggering unnecessary complexity.
4Reliability
If conventional switchover process is used, then backup connection takes over data transfer, but packet re-sequencing causes performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention maintains continuous useful action by ensuring that data flow never interrupts or re-sequences during switchover. The backup connection is pre-established and ready to immediately carry data traffic when the primary connection is deactivated, eliminating packet re-sequencing. This continuous data flow maintains network performance while ensuring reliable data transfer continuity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for improving network efficiency during an automatic switchover are disclosed. Upon receipt of a switching request from a first network peer (“NP”) transmitted via a connection containing multiple links, a process capable of providing automatic switchover protection (“ASP”), in one embodiment, bring down all or multiple links simultaneously at the second NP in response to the switching request. When the links are ready to be brought up in accordance with APS pending state, the process temporarily suppresses network alarms to avoid higher level entities from entering link reset renegotiations.