Endpoint Packet Transmission Rates for Network Scale Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

As the size of a logical network grows, testing connections between endpoints becomes infeasible due to the exponential increase in traffic required for validation, making it impractical for a network controller to individually instruct each endpoint to transmit packets for connection testing.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a distributed testing method where each endpoint autonomously transmits packets according to predetermined rates, with feedback mechanisms to adjust these rates based on success and failure rates, thereby reducing the burden on the system and optimizing resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a network controller individually instructs each endpoint to transmit packets for connection testing, then connection validation can be performed, but the traffic volume and system burden increase exponentially as network size grows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection validationVSAvoidtraffic volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the network testing function into segments: the network controller generates test parameters and categories, while individual endpoints autonomously execute packet transmission based on their assigned categories. This segmentation reduces centralized traffic generation and distributes the testing burden across endpoints, thereby reducing overall traffic volume while maintaining connection validation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Endpoints are empowered to autonomously determine which packets to transmit based on received test parameters and categories without requiring individual instructions from the network controller. This self-service approach reduces signaling overhead and allows endpoints to independently manage their testing traffic, reducing the overall system burden

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If individual packet transmission instructions are sent to each endpoint, then connection testing can be performed, but signaling overhead and system burden increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection testingVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the detailed packet transmission decision-making function from the network controller and relocates it to individual endpoints. The controller only provides high-level test parameters and categories, while endpoints extract and execute specific transmission instructions autonomously, significantly reducing signaling overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of the controller instructing each endpoint what to transmit, the system inverts the approach by having endpoints autonomously determine their transmissions based on received parameters. This inversion reduces the complexity of centralized control and minimizes signaling requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10277516B2Statistical approaches in NSX scale testing

Publication Date: 2019.04.30 VMWARE INC

AI summary

A central controller may determine rates at which endpoints are to send packets to test connections and may adjust these rates based on feedback information from the endpoints regarding tested connections.