Dynamic Trunk Distribution for Link Aggregation Frame Reordering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Link aggregation in network communications often results in frame reordering across multiple links, leading to diminished performance, data loss, or corruption, as existing hash mapping functions fail to achieve optimal distribution of communication flows over aggregated links.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for managing network traffic over OSI Level 2 switch ports, where traffic is categorized into flows based on IP addresses, port numbers, or VLANs, and then selectively routed across multiple switch ports using load-balancing metrics such as priority and congestion characteristics to maintain frame order and optimize throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If link aggregation is used to increase link speed and availability, then throughput and reliability are improved, but frame reordering occurs causing performance degradation and data corruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic flow-to-link mapping that adapts to changing network conditions. The load balancer continuously monitors link status and dynamically reassigns flows to different links based on current congestion levels, failures, or maintenance needs. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain frame order integrity by keeping each flow confined to a single link while still achieving high throughput through flexible load distribution across multiple links.
2Ease of manufacture
If a stateless hash mapping function is used to distribute flows across links, then implementation simplicity is improved, but optimal distribution of communication over links is rarely achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback-based load balancing mechanism where the load balancer continuously monitors link utilization, congestion levels, and flow characteristics. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts flow-to-link mappings to optimize distribution. This feedback loop enables the system to achieve near-optimal flow distribution while maintaining implementation feasibility through standardized networking components.
3Reliability
If multiple switch ports are used in parallel to increase link speed, then link availability is improved, but frame reordering across links causes data corruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network traffic into distinct flows and assigns each flow to a specific link within the aggregated bundle. This segmentation ensures that frames belonging to the same communication flow traverse the same link in sequence, preventing reordering issues. Meanwhile, multiple links operate in parallel to provide redundancy and high availability, resolving the contradiction between using multiple ports and maintaining frame order.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and system are directed toward managing network traffic over a plurality of Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Level 2 switch ports. A network traffic is received over the plurality of OSI Level 2 switch ports. At least a part of the network traffic is categorized into a flow. The categorization may be based on a IP address, an OSI Level 4 port, a protocol type, a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) number, or the like, associated with the network traffic. One of the plurality of OSI Level 2 switch ports is selected based on a load-balancing metric. The load-balancing metric may be a priority of the flow, a congestion characteristic, a prediction of a load usage for the flow, a combination thereof, or the like. A frame associated with the flow is sent over the selected one of the plurality of OSI Level 2 switch ports.