Dynamic VLAN Route Filtering for Edge Route Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing networking technologies distribute routes to edge nodes for irrelevant VLANs, leading to inefficient route management and maintenance due to statically set route sharing information across all edge devices, resulting in unnecessary route generation and storage.
Innovation Solution
Networking devices dynamically generate route targets based on the VLAN membership of connected hosts, enabling dynamic VLAN-based route sharing and management, allowing only relevant routes to be maintained and distributed across edge devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If route sharing information is statically set for all edge devices, then route distribution is simplified and consistent, but unnecessary routes are generated and stored, increasing network overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic route target membership where edge devices automatically join or leave route target groups based on their current VLAN membership status. This dynamic mechanism allows route sharing information to be automatically updated without manual intervention, resolving the contradiction by making the system adaptable to changing network conditions while maintaining consistency across all edge devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the route target membership parameter dynamically based on VLAN membership changes. When a computing device is added to or removed from a VLAN, the corresponding edge device automatically updates its route target membership, causing the route reflector to redistribute routes accordingly. This parameter change approach eliminates unnecessary route information while maintaining the simplicity of automated distribution.
2Reliability
If routes are distributed to all edge nodes regardless of VLAN membership, then complete route coverage is achieved, but network efficiency decreases due to unnecessary route communication and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making route target membership specific to each edge device's actual VLAN membership. Instead of uniformly distributing all routes to all edge devices, each edge device receives routes only for VLANs where it has active computing devices. This localized approach maintains complete route coverage for relevant VLANs while eliminating unnecessary route communication, thereby improving network efficiency without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where edge devices continuously report their VLAN membership status to the route reflector, which then adjusts route distribution accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that route coverage remains complete for all actively used VLANs while automatically excluding routes for VLANs without active devices, thus maintaining reliability while improving network efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If static route sharing information is used, then configuration is simple and consistent, but adaptability to dynamic VLAN membership changes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service by allowing edge devices to automatically manage their own route target membership based on their VLAN membership status. When computing devices are added to or removed from VLANs, the edge devices autonomously detect these changes and update their route target membership without requiring manual reconfiguration. This self-service mechanism maintains configuration simplicity while achieving full adaptability to dynamic VLAN changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing the relationship between VLAN membership and route target membership. The system is configured in advance to automatically associate edge devices with route targets based on their VLAN membership, so that when dynamic changes occur, the appropriate route distribution is automatically triggered without requiring new configuration. This preliminary setup maintains simplicity while enabling adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A networking device dynamically manages its routing data according to the particular VLANs associated with locally-accessible devices. The networking device generates route targets based on the active VLANs and uses the VLAN-based route targets to communicate with a route reflector and/or other networking devices. As active VLANs on the local edge networking device change, the edge networking device may locally filter stored routes or change its route target membership with the VLAN-based route targets, enabling the edge networking device to dynamically subscribe and unsubscribe to route information for different VLANs as the currently-active VLANs used by local computing devices change over time. Route advertisements for local devices (e.g., to circulate a MAC address associated with a particular VLAN and its availability at the edge networking device) are circulated with the respective VLAN-based route target, enabling the advertised route advertisement to be matched with the subscribed VLAN members.