EVI Edge Devices for Layer-2 Interconnects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cross-site layer-2 virtual interconnection networks face challenges in maintaining transparent virtual machine transitions between data centers with constant IP addresses, requiring efficient layer-2 network interconnections across distributed physical sites.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Ethernet Virtual Interconnect (EVI) networks using edge devices and gateway devices that establish virtual links, manage MAC addresses, and perform packet forwarding through tunnel encapsulation and decapsulation, enabling flexible layer-2 interconnections between sites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Ethernet Virtual Interconnect (EVI) networks are implemented to enable layer-2 interconnections across distributed sites, then virtual machine transitions between data centers become seamless and transparent, but device processing capacity and link bandwidth are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces edge devices as intermediary components that establish EVI virtual links between distributed sites. These edge devices perform tunnel encapsulation and decapsulation operations, acting as mediators that enable layer-2 connectivity across sites without requiring full mesh connectivity between all devices. The edge devices manage MAC address forwarding tables and handle packet routing, reducing the processing burden on core network devices while maintaining transparent VM transitions.
2Reliability
If Ethernet Virtual Interconnect (EVI) networks are implemented to enable layer-2 interconnections across distributed sites, then virtual machine transitions between data centers become seamless and transparent, but link bandwidth is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into multiple sites with edge devices at each site boundary. Each edge device maintains local MAC address forwarding tables and handles local forwarding decisions, reducing the need for end-to-end bandwidth consumption across the entire network. The segmentation allows local layer-2 traffic to be handled locally without traversing the entire EVI network, reducing overall link bandwidth consumption while maintaining transparent VM transitions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional service provider and enterprise networks are used for EVI, then flexible layer-2 interconnections are provided for distributed physical sites, but device complexity and configuration management become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where edge devices automatically discover and establish EVI virtual links with other edge devices. The devices autonomously build MAC address forwarding tables by learning MAC addresses from incoming packets and automatically update routing information. This self-service capability reduces manual configuration complexity while maintaining flexible layer-2 interconnections across distributed sites.
Data Source
AI summary
According to various examples, in a site network, a layer-2 gateway device via which a terminal accesses a layer-2 network establishes a virtual link and an IS-IS relation with a layer-3 edge device, sends information of an learned MAC address to the layer-3 edge device, receives a packet sent by the layer-3 edge device via the virtual link, performs tunnel decapsulation on the packet, and searches a local MAC forwarding table based on a VLAN ID and a destination MAC address in the decapsulated packet to forward the packet in the site network according to a search result.