Edge Router Redundancy via Priority-Based Spare Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for edge router redundancy in VPN systems either require excessive resources for pre-configured spare routers or result in prolonged VPN disconnection times during failures, making efficient redundancy challenging.
Innovation Solution
A management device with a storage unit for prioritizing users and spare configurations, which proactively sets spare configurations on edge routers based on user priority and remaining resources, both during normal operations and in case of failures, to efficiently manage redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the same number of spare edge routers as active edge routers are prepared in advance, then VPN disconnection time is shortened, but resources required for redundancy increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring spare edge routers with backup routing tables and connection information before failures occur. The management device stores configuration data and proactively distributes it to spare routers, enabling them to take over functions immediately when failures happen, thus reducing VPN disconnection time without requiring identical physical hardware for every active router.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements copying by creating virtual replicas of active edge router configurations in spare routers. Instead of maintaining exact physical duplicates, the system copies essential routing information, connection parameters, and operational settings to spare routers, achieving functional redundancy with reduced resource consumption.
2Quantity of substance
If the number of spare edge routers is reduced, then resources required for redundancy are reduced, but VPN disconnection time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management device performs preliminary configuration of spare routers by storing backup routing tables and connection information in advance. When a failure occurs, the system can quickly restore VPN connections using pre-prepared configuration data, minimizing disconnection time even with fewer physical spare routers available.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of spare routers from idle to ready-by-configuring them with backup routing information before failures occur. This parameter change enables spare routers to assume active functions immediately when needed, reducing the impact of having fewer physical spare units.
3Reliability
If spare configurations are set for all users, then redundancy coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing user configurations into priority groups and selectively configuring spare routers based on user priority levels. The management device segments the configuration management process, handling high-priority users differently from low-priority users, which reduces overall system complexity while maintaining essential redundancy coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different redundancy configurations to different users based on their priority levels. High-priority users receive comprehensive spare router configuration, while lower-priority users receive reduced configuration, creating localized quality variations that optimize the balance between reliability and complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In a network management device, a storage unit stores priority of each of a plurality of users using a network system and a plurality of spare configurations used when a failure occurs in an active edge router, and, when a failure occurs in the active edge router, a setting unit sets each of the plurality of spare configurations to any of a plurality of edge routers included in the network system, in order from a user having higher priority, on the basis of the priority of the user.