Gateway VM Location Sync via MAC Route Deletion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for synchronizing virtual machine location information across data centers lead to inaccurate updates, causing traffic interruptions when a virtual machine is migrated, as multiple data centers may send conflicting location update messages, making it difficult to determine the correct location of the virtual machine.

Innovation Solution

A method where a gateway sends a location update message when a virtual machine is migrated, causing other data centers to delete their locally saved MAC routes, and learns the current location from the virtual machine when traffic is destined for it, ensuring accurate synchronization of location information and reducing the risk of traffic interruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple data centers send location update messages using BGP messages with serial numbers, then location information can be synchronized, but conflicting updates occur when a data center recovers from fault, causing inaccurate location determination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation information accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization conflict resolution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by deleting MAC routing entries at data centers before a virtual machine actually migrates to them. When the source data center sends a location update message, it proactively removes stale routing information from potential destination data centers, preventing conflicting routes from being installed before the migration is complete.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by having the source data center (where the VM is leaving) send deletion commands to other data centers, rather than having destination data centers send addition commands. This inversion ensures that stale routes are removed before new routes are established, preventing conflicts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If location information is updated across all data centers, then traffic can be forwarded accurately, but traffic interruptions occur during migration transitions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic forwarding accuracyVSAvoidtraffic interruption duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary deletion of MAC routing entries at other data centers before the virtual machine actually migrates to them. This proactive removal of stale routing information ensures that when the VM arrives at a new data center, there are no conflicting routes causing traffic interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent rushes through the transition by immediately deleting MAC routing entries at other data centers when a location update message is received, rather than waiting for the migration to complete. This skipping of the intermediate uncertain state minimizes traffic interruption time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Adaptability or versatility

If MAC routing entries are maintained at all data centers, then traffic can be forwarded to migrated virtual machines, but conflicting routes cause location information inaccuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual machine migration supportVSAvoidvirtual machine location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary deletion of MAC routing entries at data centers that are not the current location of the virtual machine. When the source data center sends a location update message, it proactively removes stale routing information from other data centers, ensuring only the current location maintains an active route.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes conflicting MAC routing entries from other data centers, keeping only the correct routing information at the current location. This extraction of stale routes eliminates the conflict between multiple valid-looking routes pointing to different locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10361992B2Method for synchronizing virtual machine location information between data center gateways, gateway, and system

Publication Date: 2019.07.23 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A method for synchronizing virtual machine location information between data center gateways, a gateway, and a system, where a second gateway of a second data center receives a first location update message from a first gateway of a first data center, where the first location update message notifies that location information of the first virtual machine is changed. The second gateway deletes, according to the first location update message, a media access control (MAC) route of the first virtual machine saved in the second gateway, and the second gateway learns, from the first virtual machine to obtain current location information of the first virtual machine when the second gateway receives a packet destined for the first virtual machine and the second gateway does not save the MAC route of the first virtual machine.