Fabric-Module Counter Collection for Distributed Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The collection of packet forwarding counters in distributed routing systems is CPU intensive and cumbersome due to the large number of interfaces and counters, necessitating a more efficient method to reduce processing load.
Innovation Solution
Offload counter collection tasks from forwarding device CPUs to a software logic running on fabric devices, allowing fabric modules to remotely retrieve and process counter data from forwarding modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If forwarding engine applications collect counter data from packet processors and fabric switches, then telemetry and troubleshooting capabilities are enabled, but CPU processing load becomes extremely high
Solution Approach 1:
A dedicated counter collection application runs on fabric devices to act as an intermediary between packet processors and forwarding engine applications. This mediator collects counter data from packet processors and makes it available to forwarding engine applications, eliminating the need for forwarding engines to directly query counters and thereby reducing CPU processing load while maintaining telemetry capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The counter collection functionality is segmented and distributed to fabric devices rather than centralized in forwarding engine applications. Each fabric device independently collects counters for its associated packet processors, distributing the processing load across multiple fabric devices instead of concentrating it in forwarding engine CPUs
2Measurement precision
If packet processors maintain counters for thousands of logical interfaces, then comprehensive packet forwarding monitoring is achieved, but counter collection becomes cumbersome and CPU intensive
Solution Approach 1:
Packet processors automatically export their counter data to fabric devices without requiring active queries from forwarding engine applications. The counter collection application on fabric devices periodically retrieves counter information autonomously, making the system self-service oriented and eliminating complex manual collection processes while maintaining comprehensive monitoring of all interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed routing system is provided for use in a communication network. The distributed routing system comprises a plurality of forwarding modules and a plurality of fabric modules. At least one counter located at at least one respective fabric module is configured to receive data relating to the number of packets being forwarded via physical and/or logical interfaces associated with at least two of the plurality of forwarding modules.