Edge Device Logical Router Multi-Table Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in establishing logical networks that span multiple physical sites, such as datacenters, while ensuring data can be easily sent between sites, maintaining site self-containment, and managing forwarding policies and security.
Innovation Solution
A system is implemented to create a logical network that spans across multiple datacenters, defined by logical network elements like logical switches, routers, and middleboxes, along with policies. This system uses global and local managers to define and manage logical forwarding elements across datacenters, ensuring data traffic can be transmitted between data compute nodes within and across datacenters, as well as between datacenters and external endpoints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If logical networks are established to span multiple datacenters, then data transmission capability between sites is improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the logical network into multiple routing tables (e.g., routing table A, routing table B) that can be independently managed and applied to different datacenters. Each routing table contains routes for specific logical networks, allowing the system to handle multi-site logical networks by dividing the routing information into manageable segments rather than requiring a single complex routing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to routing by implementing edge devices with multiple routing tables instead of a single flat routing structure. This multi-dimensional routing approach allows traffic to be directed through different routing tables based on the destination datacenter and logical network, effectively adding a layer of organizational structure that scales with the number of sites without linearly increasing complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If logical networks span multiple datacenters, then network versatility and connectivity are improved, but forwarding policy management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments forwarding policies into datacenter-specific configurations associated with each routing table. Each edge device can apply different forwarding policies to different routing tables, allowing granular control over traffic flow between specific datacenters while maintaining self-containment. This segmentation enables independent policy management for each site while supporting multi-site connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing each datacenter to have customized forwarding policies and routing configurations tailored to its specific requirements. Edge devices can apply different routing tables and forwarding policies locally at each site, enabling each datacenter to maintain its unique security and forwarding requirements while still participating in the broader multi-site logical network.
3Measurement precision
If multiple routing tables are implemented on edge devices, then routing precision and traffic control are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments routing information into multiple dedicated routing tables, where each routing table stores routes for specific logical networks or datacenters. This segmentation allows the edge device to precisely control traffic by selecting the appropriate routing table based on the destination, improving routing precision while keeping each individual routing table manageable in size and scope.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal edge device architecture that can handle multiple routing tables and serve multiple datacenters through a single device. This multi-functional edge device design reduces overall system complexity by consolidating routing and forwarding capabilities in unified devices rather than requiring separate specialized devices for each datacenter or routing function.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments provide a method for configuring an edge computing device to implement a logical router belonging to a logical network. The method configures a datapath executing on the edge computing device to use a first routing table associated with the logical router for processing data messages routed to the logical router. The method configures a routing protocol application executing on the edge computing device to (i) use the first routing table for exchanging routes with a network external to the logical network and (ii) use a second routing table for exchanging routes with other edge computing devices that implement the logical router.