DOVE Connectivity Service for Virtual Switch Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Incompatibility between different encapsulation types in network virtualization using overlays leads to the need for translation gateways, which act as communication bottlenecks, impacting performance.
Innovation Solution
Mapping packet encapsulation protocol type information for virtual switches to determine and select a common encapsulation protocol type for communication between virtual machines, thereby eliminating the need for translation gateways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If translation gateways are used to translate between different encapsulation types, then interoperability between hosts supporting multiple encapsulation networks is achieved, but communication performance deteriorates due to bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a distributed overlay virtual Ethernet (DOVE) connectivity service as an intermediary that maintains a mapping of packet encapsulation protocol type information for multiple virtual switches. This service enables virtual switches to discover and select common encapsulation protocol types without requiring traditional translation gateways, thus maintaining interoperability while eliminating performance bottlenecks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes virtual switches multi-functional by enabling them to support and select from multiple encapsulation protocol types (VXLAN, NVGRE, GENEVE) dynamically. This allows virtual switches to adapt to different encapsulation requirements while communicating directly with each other, eliminating the need for dedicated translation gateway infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If translation gateways are deployed to enable communication between incompatible encapsulation types, then protocol compatibility is achieved, but processing latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-mapping packet encapsulation protocol type information for all virtual switches in the distributed overlay network. This mapping is established in advance, allowing virtual switches to quickly determine compatible encapsulation types and communicate directly without real-time translation, thereby reducing processing latency while maintaining protocol compatibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple encapsulation protocol types are supported across virtual switches, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves complexity by moving the encapsulation protocol mapping and selection logic from the individual virtual switch dimension to the network service dimension. The DOVE connectivity service maintains the complex mapping information centrally, while virtual switches simply query and follow the mappings, effectively distributing complexity and reducing the burden on individual devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes forwarding a request to a distributed overlay virtual Ethernet (DOVE) connectivity service (DCS) cluster for tunnel information by a source switch. In response to the request for tunnel information, the tunnel information and end point information are received. A common tunnel type supported by the source switch and a destination switch is selected. A packet is encapsulated with the common tunnel type supported by the source switch and the destination switch for a destination virtual machine (VM).