Distributed Trunk Switch Packet Forwarding via DTCP
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current trunking technologies in networked devices often lead to increased network traffic due to duplication of packets when multiple links are used for redundancy and bandwidth, and they lack efficient mechanisms for managing packet forwarding across distributed switches.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of distributed trunking (DT) technology, which uses multiple communication links between two distributed trunk switches to provide redundancy and bandwidth while maintaining a virtual switch interface to connected devices, employs a communication protocol (DTCP) for packet forwarding and address management, ensuring efficient packet transmission without duplication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple links are used for trunking to provide redundancy and bandwidth, then reliability and bandwidth are improved, but packet duplication occurs causing increased network traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet transmission function by introducing a distributed trunking protocol that divides responsibilities between multiple trunk switches. Each switch independently determines packet forwarding based on its local view of the network topology, preventing duplicate transmissions while maintaining redundancy through multiple potential paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed trunking protocol implements feedback mechanisms where trunk switches exchange information about packet forwarding decisions and link status. This feedback loop enables switches to coordinate their actions, ensuring that packets are transmitted only once even when multiple redundant links exist, thereby reducing network traffic while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If packets are transmitted on all trunk ports for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Each trunk switch independently makes packet forwarding decisions based on its local state and the distributed trunking protocol rules, without requiring complex centralized coordination. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining reliable packet delivery through autonomous decision-making at each switch.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributed trunking protocol establishes preliminary agreements and rules for packet forwarding before transmission occurs. Trunk switches pre-coordinate their behavior through the protocol, defining clear conditions under which packets should be forwarded or dropped, thereby reducing the complexity of real-time coordination while ensuring reliable delivery.
3Power
If traditional trunking is used to provide bandwidth aggregation, then bandwidth is improved, but network congestion increases due to packet duplication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing each trunk switch to independently manage packet forwarding based on its local network conditions and the distributed protocol rules. This localized decision-making enables efficient bandwidth utilization without the packet duplication that occurs in traditional trunking, thereby maintaining high bandwidth while reducing overall network traffic.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of transmitting a packet from a distributed trunk switch and a computer-readable medium storing instructions therefor is described. The method comprises populating an address table of the distributed trunk switch. The method also comprises receiving a packet from a device connected to the distributed trunk switch and transmitting the received packet via a distributed trunk (DT) port of the distributed trunk switch if the destination address of the received packet corresponds to a distributed trunk port in the address table.