Edge Router Forwarding Table Segmentation via SDN Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
As modern networks grow in complexity and size, the resources required to store and maintain routing tables or forwarding tables become increasingly substantial, leading to performance degradation and increased costs due to resource consumption.
Innovation Solution
A software-defined networking (SDN) controller is used to analyze routing information from edge routers, generating a next hop graph that updates the forwarding tables to only include necessary data, reducing the size of these tables and minimizing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all possible next hops are installed in the forwarding table to enable complete routing capability, then routing completeness is improved, but table size and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the forwarding table into two parts: a core forwarding table stored in high-speed memory containing only frequently accessed next hops, and a distributed cache stored in lower-speed memory or external storage containing less frequently accessed next hops. This segmentation reduces the size of the main forwarding table while maintaining complete routing capability through the distributed cache.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to forwarding table management by implementing time-based expiration policies for cached entries. Less frequently accessed next hops are moved to distributed caches with time-to-live (TTL) mechanisms, allowing the system to maintain routing completeness while reducing immediate memory requirements.
2Reliability
If forwarding tables are enlarged to accommodate all possible next hops, then routing capability is improved, but processing speed and latency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the forwarding table into a hot path section in high-speed memory for immediate packet forwarding decisions and a cold path section in distributed caches for less frequently accessed routes. This segmentation ensures that the majority of packet forwarding operations occur at high speed while maintaining access to complete routing information when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements predictive pre-fetching mechanisms that anticipate future routing needs and load relevant next hop information into the distributed cache before it is actually needed. This preliminary action reduces latency when accessing less frequently used routes while maintaining high forwarding speed for common routes.
3Measurement precision
If forwarding tables store comprehensive routing information, then routing accuracy is improved, but storage resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments routing information storage between high-speed memory containing accurate, frequently accessed routing entries and distributed caches containing less frequently accessed entries. This segmentation maintains routing accuracy for critical paths while reducing overall storage resource consumption by moving redundant or less critical data to lower-cost storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic expiration and eviction policies for distributed cache entries, automatically discarding stale or less frequently accessed routing information and recovering storage resources. When routing accuracy is needed for previously evicted routes, the system can reload the information from external sources, balancing storage consumption with routing accuracy requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for management of forwarding tables at edge routers. A processor that executes a software defined networking controller can select an edge router associated with a networking environment. The edge router can access or use a forwarding table. The processor can obtain routing information associated with the edge router. The routing information can include forwarding table contents associated with the forwarding table and next hop information that can indicate communication paths associated with the edge router. The processor can analyze the routing information to determine next hops associated with the edge router, generate a next hop graph that represents the next hops, and initiate updating of the forwarding table such that the forwarding table only includes data that corresponds to the next hops.