Distributed Data Plane Packet Loss Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for packet loss measurement in network routers are inefficient, particularly in distributed data planes, as they often rely on centralized control planes that result in high latency and reduced accuracy due to the need for polling and counter accumulation, which can lead to processing burdens and scalability issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a distributed data plane architecture where forwarding units within routers increment and update counter values locally, and then internally forward a loss-measurement packet (LMP) to accumulate total counter values, reducing reliance on centralized control plane processes and enhancing speed and accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If centralized control plane polling and counter accumulation is used, then packet loss measurement can be performed, but latency increases and measurement accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized control plane functionality by distributing counter accumulation and packet loss measurement operations to individual forwarding units. Each forwarding unit independently maintains counters and processes measurement packets, eliminating the need for centralized polling and reducing both latency and accuracy issues associated with centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
Forwarding units are empowered to autonomously perform packet loss measurement operations without requiring centralized control plane intervention. Each forwarding unit self-manages its counters, independently processes loss measurement packets, and autonomously accumulates results, thereby eliminating the time-consuming centralized polling mechanism.
2Quantity of substance
If centralized control plane polling is used to accumulate counter values from multiple forwarding units, then total packet counts can be obtained, but processing burden on control plane increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control plane processing burden by segmenting counter accumulation operations across multiple independent forwarding units. Each forwarding unit independently accumulates its own counter values and processes measurement packets autonomously, eliminating the need for the control plane to poll and aggregate counters from all forwarding units centrally.
Solution Approach 2:
Each forwarding unit serves itself by autonomously maintaining and accumulating its counter values without requiring control plane intervention. The forwarding units independently process loss measurement packets and accumulate results locally, significantly reducing the processing burden on the control plane while still obtaining total packet counts.
3Productivity
If distributed data plane with multiple forwarding units is used, then network throughput and scalability improve, but coordinating counter accumulation across units becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the counter accumulation and packet loss measurement functions directly into the data plane operations at each forwarding unit. By combining these functions at the distributed level rather than separating them into centralized control plane operations, the system maintains high throughput while simplifying coordination through local autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
Each forwarding unit in the distributed data plane autonomously handles counter accumulation and measurement packet processing without requiring complex coordination mechanisms. This self-service approach allows multiple forwarding units to operate independently at high speed while still contributing to overall packet loss measurement, thereby maintaining scalability and throughput without increasing coordination complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In general, techniques are described for performing packet loss measurement in a distributed data plane. In one example, a local router includes a plurality of forwarding units that implement a distributed data plane. First and second forwarding units may switch layer two (L2) packet data units (PDUs) between the local router and a remote router using a virtual path. The first and second forwarding may unit may increment, in response to processing any PDU of the PDUs for the virtual path, respective counters stored by the first and second forwarding units. The first and second forwarding units may update, based on the respective counters, a loss-measurement packet (LMP). For instance, the first forwarding unit, upon updating the LMP, may internally forward the LMP to the second forwarding unit. The second forwarding unit, upon updating the LMP, may send the LMP to the remote router.