Distributed Fabric Protocol Switching Network Architecture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network communication systems require individual configuration and management of each switch, leading to complex deployment, configuration, and management of network fabrics, as they operate independently at the management, control, and data planes.
Innovation Solution
A distributed fabric protocol (DFP) switching network architecture is introduced, featuring a master switch and follower switches, where data traffic is centralized and managed through unified virtualized ports and priority-based flow control, enabling unified management, control, and data planes across multiple switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple switches operate independently at management, control and data planes, then each switch can function autonomously, but the deployment, configuration and management of network fabrics becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent switches into a unified virtualized switch by implementing a distributed fabric protocol that synchronizes management, control, and data planes across all switches. The virtualization layer abstracts the physical switch boundaries, presenting a single logical device to users and administrators, thereby simplifying deployment and management while maintaining the autonomy of individual physical switches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer as an intermediary between the physical switches and the network management system. This intermediary implements the distributed fabric protocol to coordinate operations across switches, manage configuration centrally, and present a unified interface, thereby reducing the complexity of managing multiple independent switches while preserving their autonomous functionality.
2Productivity
If data traffic is handled independently by each switch, then switches operate autonomously, but load balancing and traffic management efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a unified control plane that provides multi-functional capabilities across all switches in the fabric. The distributed fabric protocol enables centralized traffic management, load balancing, and resource allocation that can dynamically optimize data flow across the entire network, while each physical switch continues to perform its traditional switching functions autonomously at the data plane level.
3Ease of operation
If conventional individual switch configuration is used, then each switch is independently manageable, but the overall network fabric management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring and synchronizing the distributed fabric protocol parameters across all switches before network operation begins. The virtualization layer establishes unified management policies, control plane configurations, and data plane routing rules in advance, allowing rapid deployment and eliminating the need for time-consuming individual switch configuration during network setup.
Data Source
AI summary
A switching network includes an upper tier including a master switch and a lower tier including a plurality of lower tier entities. The master switch includes a plurality of ports each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of lower tier entities. Each of the plurality of ports includes a plurality of virtual ports each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of remote physical interfaces (RPIs) at the lower tier entity coupled to that port. Each of the plurality of ports also includes a receive interface that, responsive to receipt of data traffic from a particular lower tier entity among the plurality of lower tier entities, queues the data traffic to the virtual port among the plurality of virtual ports that corresponds to the RPI on the particular lower tier entity that was the source of the data traffic. The master switch further includes a switch controller that switches data traffic from the virtual port to an egress port among the plurality of ports from which the data traffic is forwarded.