Flow Entry Timing Processing in SDN Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing OpenFlow protocol in SDN networks lacks accuracy in predicting the ineffective moment of flow entries, leading to discrepancies between the actual and desired ineffective times, affecting the processing time of flow entries in forwarding planes.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a flow entry timing processing method where the forwarding plane device receives a flow rule message from the control plane with an ineffective time and a time type identifier, allowing it to perform ineffectiveness processing either at the specified ineffective moment or when a calculated ineffective duration ends, ensuring precise timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control plane device uses duration between predicted ineffective moment and current moment as aging time, then the flow entry can be installed and forwarded, but the actual ineffective moment deviates from the desired ineffective moment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the forwarding plane device pre-calculate the ineffective duration based on the ineffective moment and current time, then store this calculated duration in the flow entry. This pre-computation ensures that when the flow entry is installed, the timing is already accurate, eliminating the deviation between actual and desired ineffective moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having the forwarding plane device continuously monitor the current time and compare it with the stored ineffective moment. When the current time reaches the ineffective moment, the system automatically performs ineffectiveness processing, ensuring precise timing control through continuous time-based feedback.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the OpenFlow protocol does not ensure execution order of messages, then message processing is flexible, but the control plane device cannot accurately predict the moment when flow entry is successfully installed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism by having the forwarding plane device calculate and store the ineffective duration locally. This intermediary approach decouples the timing accuracy requirement from the message execution order, allowing the system to maintain message processing flexibility while achieving precise timing through local computation rather than relying on predictable message execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The forwarding plane device performs self-service by autonomously calculating the ineffective duration based on its own current time when receiving the flow rule message. This self-computation eliminates the need for the control plane device to predict the installation moment, as each device independently determines its own timing based on its local clock.
Data Source
AI summary
A flow entry timing processing method and an apparatus are provided, and relate to the computer field, to resolve a prior-art problem that processing time of a flow entry is not accurate enough. The method includes: receiving, by a forwarding plane device, a flow rule message sent by a control plane device, where the flow rule message includes an ineffective time of a flow entry and a time type identifier of the ineffective time; and when the time type identifier indicates that the ineffective time is an ineffective moment of the flow entry, performing, by the forwarding plane device, ineffectiveness processing on the flow entry according to the ineffective moment.