Distributed Routing Controllers for Multi-Region SD-WAN Scalability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional wide area network (WAN) architectures face limitations in scalability, bandwidth, and complexity management, particularly in multi-region deployments, due to centralized routing controllers that store route information for all regions, hindering the ability of SD-WANs to scale up to large numbers of routers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a distributed, per-region routing controller architecture where each routing controller only stores route information for its assigned region, using Overlay Management Protocol (OMP) peering connections and region-specific identifiers to prevent full mesh connections between routing controllers, allowing edge and border routers to peer only with controllers within their region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If centralized routing controllers store route information for all regions, then routing control is simplified, but scalability is limited and network bandwidth is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized routing controller into multiple distributed per-region routing controllers. Each routing controller is assigned to a specific region and stores only route information for that region, rather than all regions. This segmentation enables horizontal scaling of SD-WAN by allowing independent growth of each regional controller without being constrained by a single centralized controller's capacity.
2Device complexity
If centralized routing controllers store route information for all regions, then routing control is simplified, but network bandwidth is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing control function into distributed per-region controllers, where each controller maintains only its regional route information. This eliminates the need for controllers to store and process route information for all regions, thereby reducing network bandwidth consumption for route updates and improving overall network efficiency.
3Reliability
If edge routers establish OMP peering connections with all routing controllers, then routing information is comprehensive, but connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by having edge routers establish OMP peering connections only with their assigned per-region routing controller, rather than all controllers. Each routing controller is responsible for a specific region, so edge routers only need comprehensive routing information for their own region, which is provided by their local controller. This reduces connection complexity while maintaining routing information completeness for each region.
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, a software defined wide area network (SD-WAN) includes a first region and a second region. The first region includes multiple first routing controllers and multiple first SD-WAN edge routers. The second region includes multiple second routing controllers and multiple second SD-WAN edge routers. Each first SD-WAN edge router of the first region is configured to establish Overlay Management Protocol (OMP) peering connections with the plurality of first routing controllers of the first region but to avoid establishing OMP peering connections with the plurality of second routing controllers of the second region. Each second SD-WAN edge router of the second region is configured to establish OMP peering connections with the plurality of second routing controllers of the second region but to avoid establishing OMP peering connections with the plurality of first routing controllers of the first region.