Flow Control Node Intercepts Packets to Reduce Switch Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication systems using OpenFlow, a flood of flow entry setting requests increases the processing load and delay on control apparatuses and forwarding nodes, especially as network scale and client nodes increase, leading to reduced throughput.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a flow control node upstream of forwarding nodes to intercept and process packets not satisfying predetermined conditions, reducing the load on control apparatuses and forwarding nodes by setting second packet handling operations in the flow control node and causing it to drop or redirect such packets, thereby minimizing the number of requests to the control apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If flow entry setting requests are processed by control apparatus for all packets, then packet handling accuracy is improved, but processing load and delay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet processing function by introducing a flow control node that handles specific packet types (broadcast, multicast, unknown unicast packets) separately from the main forwarding nodes. This segmentation allows the control apparatus to receive setting requests only for necessary packets rather than all packets, reducing processing delay while maintaining accurate packet handling for control traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control node acts as an intermediary between client nodes and forwarding nodes. It intercepts control packets before they reach forwarding nodes and processes them according to settings from the control apparatus. This intermediary role reduces the burden on both the control apparatus and forwarding nodes by filtering and pre-processing packets.
2Productivity
If network scale and client nodes are increased, then network capacity is improved, but processing load on control apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the processing of broadcast, multicast, and unknown unicast packets from the general forwarding node processing. These control packets are intercepted and handled by the dedicated flow control node, removing them from the main processing flow. This extraction reduces the quantity of packets requiring control apparatus intervention as the network scales.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow control node performs preliminary processing of control packets by intercepting them before they reach forwarding nodes. By pre-processing these packets and handling them according to pre-configured settings, the system avoids generating excessive setting requests to the control apparatus as network capacity increases.
3Measurement precision
If flow entries are set in all forwarding nodes, then packet forwarding accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the handling of broadcast, multicast, and unknown unicast packets into a single flow control node rather than distributing these functions across multiple forwarding nodes. This consolidation maintains accurate packet forwarding for control traffic while reducing the overall device complexity by centralizing specific processing functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system includes: a forwarding node(s) in which a first packet handling operation(s) for processing incoming packets is set and which processes packets in accordance with the packet handling operation(s); a first control apparatus setting the first packet handling operation(s) in the forwarding node(s); a flow control node(s) arranged upstream of the forwarding node(s); and a second control apparatus setting a second packet handling operation(s) in the flow control node(s). The flow control node(s) intercepts forwarding of packets that do not satisfy a predetermined condition(s) to the forwarding node(s) in accordance with the second packet handling operation(s).